A magnificent cross-cultural river of sound

Afrissippi was born in 2002, over a jam session in Oxford, Mississippi, at the home of the legendary R.L. Burnside between Senegalese Fulani griot Guelel Kumba and Burnside apprentice Eric Deaton. The similarities between Kumba’s traditional Senegalese melodies and north Mississippi hill country blues were immediately apparent and thrilling, and so the journey began. A who’s who of North Mississippi’s finest were called in for Afrissippi’s 2006 debut CD Fulani Journey, including: Junior Kimbrough’s son Kinney Kimbrough on drums; wildman Jimbo Mathus; sax legend Herman Green; Cedric Burnside, and Taylor Grocery Band. Channeling the renowned Delta recording style into the mix added even more excitement and creative momentum.

From its proud headwaters in Oxford, this beautiful cross-cultural river of ideas and sound has already flowed into the clubs of Louisiana, Texas and California, and across the ocean to festivals in Africa, Italy and Switzerland. Response to Fulani Journey from radio stations and blues & world music publications has been one of universal acclaim. A second Afrissippi recording will wash upon listeners’ shores in April 2008; with an ambitious 20-25 city tour in May promising to spawn thousands of new Afrissippi fans across the Southeast, Mid-Atlantic, New England, and Canada.