From Oslo World to Rainbow Studios: The Making of Sidiki Camara’s Ankaben
A performance first presented at Oslo World in 2024 has become the foundation of Sidiki Camara’s next album. Sidiki Camara // A Life in Music brought together musicians from different traditions around the percussionist’s musical journey. That collaboration continued at Rainbow Studios in June 2026, resulting in Ankaben, which is scheduled for release on September 4, with a lead single arriving on August 21.
The album’s ensemble includes Bendik Hofseth on saxophone, Unni Løvlid on vocals, Sarah Camille on vocals and spoken word, and Erik Sollid on fiddle. Jacob Young and Eirik Askerøi contribute guitar, while Audun Erlien plays bass. With Martin Abrahamsen responsible for mixing and mastering, the project brings Camara’s grounding in Malian music into conversation with Norwegian jazz, folk and contemporary practices.
The title translates to “Humanity,” a theme Camara places at the centre of the release. He describes the project as a meeting across genres and cultures, guided by mutual respect and spontaneous creation. Rather than treating that exchange as separate from his personal history, he sees it as an expression of a life spent making connections through sound. Born in Mali, Camara lived in Brussels from 1989 to 2006 before settling in Oslo.
The collaboration will return to the stage for an album launch at Cosmopolite Scene on October 18, 2026. The concert marks another step in a project that began in live performance before taking shape in the studio. For audiences in Oslo, it will be an opportunity to hear the album presented in the city that has been Camara’s home for two decades.
