BIO

Multi-talented entertainer and educator Njacko Backo and his band Kalimba Kalimba have been sharing their uplifting music, energizing dance, and hope-filled stories with audiences of all ages and all walks of life since 1989.

Their incredibly rich World Beat sound is driven by African rhythms, layered with traditional and modern instruments ranging from the kalimba and ngoni to the electric guitar and fiddle. In English, French and Bazoué - one of Cameroon’s many languages - they sing of life, love, social injustices and other themes inspired by Njacko's strong sense of spirit and grassroots wisdom.

The King of Kalimba celebrates 24 years of making music in Canada with his release Ici Bas, Rien N’est Impossible (Here Below, Nothing Is Impossible), a collaboration with his band Kalimba Kalimba and some of Canada’s most accomplished musicians. Jane Bunnett brings a lightness and joy to the recording on soprano sax, piccolo and flute. Canadian roots music legend Ken Whitely performs on four different banjos, and George Koller sensitively weaves in sitar and dilruba. Paul Neufeld lays down his signature groove on Wurlitzer electric piano, Hohner clavinet, organ, and Korg synthesizer. Larger than the sum of its parts, Njacko co-produced this album with Jeff McCulloch of Wellesley Sound Studio and the result has stretched the boundaries of African music. As Backo’s 11th independent release, this album marks an important milestone in the musician’s journey that began 54 years ago in a small village in rural Cameroon. Backo’s mastery of the kalimba and ngoni have reached new heights which has inspired him to orchestrate unique instrument combinations that have never been heard before. This recording was supported by Conseil des Arts de l’Ontario (CAO).

Live performances are captivating, engaging and memorable: "From Njacko Backo and Kalimba! Kalimba!'s opening notes, the music's exotic and hot rhythms had everyone on the dance floor. An inevitable occurrence with this group." - Olivier Bilodeau, Le Métropolitain