Ghana’s Santrofi makes Songlines essential bands list

The eight-piece band, whose debut Alewa peaked at No 1 on the World Music Charts Europe in July, is described by the British magazine as “lighting up the European festival scene with their live sets.” It also touts the album for the way it “shows off their explosive contemporary take on highlife.”

Also featured in the publication are fellow West African music acts Seckou Keita, the Senegalese kora player, and Malians Tinariwen and Fatoumata Diawara.

Keita, who is known for his wide-ranging collaborations, is lauded for his “virtuosity and skill” and the “beautiful meditative work that is his solo project". Diawara is praised for making inroads with her Grammy-nominated sophomore album Fenfo.

The West African musicians made Songline’s August-September issue alongside French electronic band Caravan Palace, English folk singer Eliza Carthy and Haitian singer Moonlight Benjamin. The others are Minyo Crusaders (Norway), Lankum (Ireland), Dudu Tassa & the Kuwaits (Israel).