West African griot tradition · Nordic jazz · contemporary expression
Solo Diarra – YIMENGA
A griot voice from Burkina Faso meets Nordic jazz in a live project about identity, belonging and being yourself.
- Artists
- Solo Diarra, Bafana Nhlapo, Ivan Blomqvist, Joel Ring
YIMENGA: Be Yourself
About YIMENGA
YIMENGA is Solo Diarra's debut solo album and live concert project. Released by Global Sonics on 23 May 2025, the album brings West African rhythms, melodies and storytelling traditions into dialogue with jazz, classical piano, improvisation and contemporary production.
The title means Be Yourself in Bambara. For Solo, the phrase expresses the heart of the project: standing firmly in his own identity while remaining open to new encounters. YIMENGA grew from the experience of carrying the griot tradition into a new geographical and musical landscape without losing connection to where the music comes from.
The result is a personal body of work shaped by identity, belonging, cultural heritage, resilience, community and movement between worlds.
The live project
On stage, YIMENGA is presented as a quartet. The music moves between song, groove, improvisation, instrumental dialogue and storytelling, letting traditional West African instruments and rhythmic language meet piano, cello, electric bass and contemporary arrangements. The quartet has become the core live identity of the project during its Norwegian touring period, an intimate but powerful setting for Solo's voice, ngoni and percussion.
- Solo Diarra: vocals, ngoni, percussion. Griot, vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, composer and artistic leader of YIMENGA.
- Bafana Nhlapo: vocals, percussion. South African vocalist and percussionist, bringing vocal layers, rhythmic force and a strong live dialogue with Solo.
- Ivan Blomqvist: piano, keyboards. Norwegian pianist, composer and producer, connecting the project's acoustic West African language with a Nordic jazz sound.
- Joel Ring: cello, electric bass. Expands the quartet's harmonic and rhythmic range, from melodic dialogue and texture to groove and bass foundation.
From Norway to international touring
YIMENGA's 2026 live period has established the project on Norwegian stages and prepared it for a wider international chapter. The year began with Kampenjazz in Oslo on 25 January and continued with performances including Institut for X in Aarhus, Riksscenen in Oslo and two concerts at Trænafestivalen.
The Norwegian touring chapter culminates at Tromsø World on 31 October 2026. From there, YIMENGA continues straight into international touring, beginning with Around The Rhythm Festival in Warsaw on 13 November 2026.
Confirmed international dates
| Date | Country | Presenter, city |
|---|---|---|
| 13 Nov 2026 | Poland | Around The Rhythm Festival, Warsaw |
| 9 Apr 2027 | Austria | Sababu Festival, Vienna |
| 22 May 2027 | Denmark | Institut for X, Aarhus |
| 3 Jul 2027 | France | Afrik'en Fête, Chalon-sur-Saône |
| 25 Sep 2027 | France | MORPHO, La Coopérative Chorégraphique, Caen |
Selected live dates 2026
- 25 Jan: Kampenjazz, Oslo
- 4 Apr: Institut for X, Aarhus
- 17 Apr: Riksscenen, Oslo / Jungeltelegrafen
- 9–10 Jul: Trænafestivalen
- 31 Oct: Tromsø World
- 13 Nov: Around The Rhythm Festival, Warsaw
The album
YIMENGA, debut solo album, 8 tracks. Released 23 May 2025 on Global Sonics.
The album moves between lyrical songs and instrumental pieces, combining traditional West African instruments with piano, keyboards, guitar and contemporary production. Its themes include identity, unity, cultural preservation, peace, resilience, friendship and love. Music by Solo Diarra, Ivan Blomqvist and Nosizwe Baqwa; produced and mixed by Ivan Blomqvist.
Booking
Booking and management: solodiarramusic30@gmail.com · Artist website: solodiarra.com
Live photos: Kathe Øien.
