DUSU Mali Band

Dusu plays original music. Most songs are written by Ibrahim Kelly and developed as a group on the spot. Others are based upon traditional song and dance from various regions of Mali and West Africa. The music is a universal medium to be embraced and enjoyed across all cultures of the world. It is the glue that binds us all together, and it keeps us alive and healthy.

The band has recently returned from an epic life-changing voyage to Mali, West Africa. We spent the month of January traveling far across Malian earth to a number of spots including Sevare, Mopti, Dogon Country, and even to the most remote music festival in the world, Le Festival au Desert, in Timbuktu. We carried guitars and drums and played music everywhere we could. We met a lot of people, saw a lot of amazing things, connected with old friends, learned a lot of lessons, and now we're back in Portland and ready for the next wave of Dusu to hit the shoreline!

In just two years, Dusu Mali Band has played at a number of music festivals and venues around the West Coast (Joshua Tree Music Festival, Breitenbush Hot Springs, Silver Moon Brewing, Elbo Room, Jambalaya, Alladin Theater, Mississippi Studios, Roseland Theater), and have been blessed to open up for successful Malian artists Tinariwen, Vieux Farka Toure, and Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni Ba. Dusu has played alongside a wide range of acts including Orgone, Gaudi, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Midnite, Wunmi, and others. This summer we are honored to perform at String Cheese Incident's end-of-tour blowout at Horning's Hideout in North Plains, OR.

Dusu brings a natural love of song and dance and is dedicated to bringing their best every time. The band has met different types of success in all of their endeavors, and are committed to the hard work it takes to keep things moving forward. Long term goals include an East Coast festival circuit, Hawaii, Mali, Europe, Japan, Australia, and anywhere else that could benefit from the Dusu experience. In the meantime, you can find Dusu continually strengthening their foundation in Portland and rest of the Pacific Northwest. Stay tuned...

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