Diom de Kossa grew up in a small village called Toufinga northwest in the Ivory coast. It was soon obvious that the village was blessed...

Diom de Kossa grew up in a small village called Toufinga northwest in the Ivory coast. It was soon obvious that the village was blessed with a gifted drummer. Kossa was picking coffee beans during daytime and also became the master drummer of the village for celebrations and ceremonies. Later Diom de Kossa was elected to become part of the Ivory Coast National Ballett, where he soon became head of the drummers. This gave him an extraordinary possibility to travel and to study the many different traditions and rhythms of the Ivory Coast. After ten years with the ballet he settled in Norway where he has been active on the music scene for several decades. Diom de Kossas music is a result of this journey, and is incredibly rich in its connection to the Ivorian tradition. This album, the second album with a full band, is the result of a fifteen year long working relationship between Diom de Kossa, Kenneth Ekornes and Olav Torget, who have studied musical traditions in Brazil and West Africa. During this collaboration Ekornes and Torget have become very much at home in Kossas music. The newcomer in the band, Tiago Mendez from Brazil, is bringing his own flavour to the music. The music in this new album "Wasso" is Diom de Kossas compositions and lyrics, arranged by the group.