Opening this year’s Songlines Encounters Festival and celebrating their UK premiere is 3MA, an extraordinary trio that combines three sublime instruments and interweaves three musical traditions from Mali, Morocco and Madagascar.

Ballaké Sissoko plays kora and comes from one of the great musical families of West Africa. Driss El Maloumi is an oud (lute) player from Morocco, one of the best from anywhere in the Arab world. Rajery plays the extraordinary Malagasy valiha, a plucked bamboo tube.

Since their debut in 2008, which was a Top of the World disc in Songlines, they have melded their music into one of the most convincing musical tapestries on the planet. Their new album Anarouz has just been released.

Centuries of musical tradition run through Ballaké Sissoko’s fingers. In his griot family, tricks and secrets for playing the kora have been inherited over generations. As a member of the Instrumental Ensemble of Mali, Ballaké started playing all over Africa, then in Europe. He later formed his own troupe in France before gradually gaining international recognition. In 2015, Ballaké Sissoko took part in the soundtrack of the César award-winning movie Timbuktu from director Abderrahmane Sissako.

The Moroccan musician of Berber origin, Driss El Maloumi, received a Western and Arabic classical music education. For the past 20 years, he has been one of the pillars of the Hespèrion XXI ensemble of the renowned viola da gamba player, Jordi Savall, who since 2014 has also incorporated 3MA in two of his creations. Whilst being director of the Agadir Conservatory of Music, Driss El Maloumi also pursues a successful solo career.

In 2017, Malagasy valiha player Rajery counts 37 years of playing valiha, 35 years of live performance and a 25-year-long international career. A path that did not began without difficulties. Facing amputation of his right hand as a young child, Rajery overcame his disability, achieved instrumental fluency, then virtuosity, with his tubular harp. The RFI’s World Music Award in 2002 settled his status of leading artist. Rajery founded a musical festival in Madagascar and gets involved in education, musicotherapy and reforestation.

‘A group of musicians whose aim is not to impress but to connect, both with each other and with the unseen listener.’ Guardian
‘These three show exactly what happens when sympathetic ears work together for the greater good of musical artistry.’ Staccatofy
‘An Afrophonic symphony of plucked strings. A must for all lovers of instrumental African music.’ Afropop