Vagabon Tribe

Djoba Gueye

Vocals, Guitar, Lyrics

 

Djoba brings a unique soul to this group. A seasoned voice with hints of blues and jazz. Numerous tours of Europe and the US in her resume.

 

 

 

Lamine Soumano

Guitar, Kora, Mandolin, Arrangements

 

Lamine is a griot from Mali and virtuoso of the guitar and kora. Most certainly, one of the finest musicians in West Africa having been on numerous tours of Europe and the US.  

 

  

 

Rusty Eklund

Kamel N'goni (12-String West African Harp), Percussion, Composer/Arranger.

 

Rusty has traveled the globe for two decades studying culture and music. Most of the last 12 years in West and North Africa.

  

 

Honorary Tribe Members
Nate Finestead

Ryan Mullin

Seidou Sow

Papis Diarra

Sidi Sy

Jeje Cheikh Ali

Papis Kone

Ousmane Toure

Papa Diop

Andra Kouyate

Mor N'Diaye

Chip Staples

Jim Gagnon

Alexander D'Kouami Boamah

Zach Swaggart 

 

             

CD Info                  

Vagabon Tribe Self-Titled Debut CD 

1. Khaleh (Children)

An original composition by Djoba about the beauty of children. Includes Djoba on guitar, Rusty on percussion, and Lamine Soumano on mandolin and guitar.

2. Degaloma (Listen to Me)

An orginal composition by Rusty on kamel n'goni. The song states: "Listen to Me, be careful of that woman. Listen to me, be careful of that man." A counsel between two friends cautioning each other to be careful in relationships. Not a bad warning, but a friendly counsel.

3. Guibendo (Crying for Grandma)

A funky original composition by Rusty, working with rhythmic concepts from the Maraka people of Mali. A beautiful song in Wolof, by Djoba about how she cries for her grandmother and her ancestors who are no longer with us. Includes Jeje Cheikh Aly on Xalam

7. M'Beguel (Love)

This beautiful love song in Wolof by Djoba is an original song over a traditional Malian piece of music called Bani

8. Eh Buriyallah 

The one piece that Rusty and Djoba created in the moment one day in rehearsal, stylizing it in Wolof. Lamine Soumano offers up a sweet arrangement.

9. Cheyenne

A dedication by Djoba and Rusty to his daughter Cheyenne. Composition by Rusty Eklund with Lamine Soumano on guitar and mandolin.

10. Remember to Say Goodbye (Wayno Mii)

Rusty Eklund using kora technique on the kamel n'goni, combined with the Pular vocals of Seidou, advising that we need to remember to say goodbye to people otherwise they will worry in our absence.

About the Music

Vagabon Tribe's music was developed through the cooperative efforts of Rusty, Djoba, Lamine, Seidou Sow, and Papis Diarra. The majority of the musical arrangements were composed by Rusty and then refined through work with Lamine Soumano and Papis Diarra. The lyrics are original songs by Djoba and Seidou, created in rehearsals to compliment the music that Rusty offered. Many of the arrangements were then refined by Lamine Soumano. You may have witnessed this development as we posted rehearsal tracks, studio samples, and then final arrangements throughout the recording process.

       Previous Vagabon Sightings

a few highlights of Rusty Eklund's and

Vagabon Tribe's past performances

Where these Vagabons From?

In 1996, as he traveled through the mountain west of the US, Rusty Eklund met Malian djembe master Abdoul Doumbia, at the Drum Brothers west African drumming camp in Missoula, Montana. Eklund then made a series of trips to Mali and Guinea beginning in 1998 to become well versed in the instruments, musical repertoire, songs, and culture of the West African people.He spent the better part of 4 years in Mali and Guinea studying with various drummers: Sega Sidibe, Mahamadou Traore, Malick Drame, Bazou Sissoko, Madou Diarra, Kinini Diarra, and many other village and urban masters. He played at dozens of traditional celebrations and was invited to perform with artists like Toumani Diabate and Nahawa Doumbia. In 2002 Eklund met Jeli Lamine Soumano, kora and guitar virtuoso, and began a whole new journey into instrumental ensemble music. Eklund and Soumano headed out on two series of US performances in 2006 and 2007 along the central east coast. 

In Des Moines, IA, in 2008, Eklund met Nathan Finestead and Ryan Mullin. The three began playing as an instrumental trio highlighting Eklund's original compositions on kamel n'goni, guitar, and percussion. In the summer of 2009 Eklund traveled to Nouakchoot, Mauritania, in hopes to expand his repertoire to include North African music as well. He quickly met a wonderful group of musicians from the Mauritanian group Walfadjiri, and, working from his compositions with Finestead and Mullin, was in the studio within 4 weeks recording the first tracks for the debut Vagabon Tribe CD. Playing with musicians like Papis Diarra, Papis Kone, Sidi Sy, Papa Diop, and Seidou Sow added a unique flavor to VT's repertoire. In November, 2009 Eklund and Walfadjiri accompanied Mauritanian star Noura Semaly to the Festival du Sahel outside of St. Louis, Senegal. Inspired by their mix of Mauritanian, Reggae, and West African music Baaba Maal joined them on stage for a unique redition of a traditional Mauritanian piece.

Eklund then met one of Mauritania's rising stars, Djoba, and was immediately inspired. The following day they began to play a few pieces and work on some arrangements. The following week they rolled through one composition after another, focusing on highlighting the incredible array of Djoba's singing abilities. Djoba is a Mauritanian native who has been singing on stage since the age of 10. Trained by her grandmother, and most recently under the wing of one of Mauritania's biggest stars, Malouma Mint Maideh, Djoba has performed in the US and Europe on numerous occasions.

Look for their debut CD to be released in 2010 and for performances throughout Mauritania, Senegal, Mali, and the USA.