On Sunday, March 1, The Center for Arts at the Armory is honored to welcome Djékady for an electrifying night of rhythm, tradition, and celebration. Doors open at 5:00pm and the concert begins at 6 p.m. with an opening set by singer-songwriter and violinist Skye Darling at Arts at the Armory in Somerville.

This concert is especially meaningful for our community. The two lead artists of Djékady are truly prophets in their own land — world-renowned musicians who also call our neighborhoods home. Arts at the Armory is proud to present Djékady’s release party for their debut album, Benkan as part of our signature Spotlight Series. Meaning “agreement” in the Mandinka language, Benkan expands the possibilities of American music by celebrating the cultural richness shaped by global connection.

Djékady — a Mandinka phrase meaning “coming together is good” — is a fiery six-piece band led by Grammy Award–winning musicians Balla Kouyaté (balafon, vocals) and Mike Block (cello, vocals). The ensemble places Malian music into vibrant conversation with American folk traditions and contemporary styles. Featuring Mamoudou Konate (djembe), Idrissa Koné (talking drum, calabash, percussion, vocals), Luke Okerlund (guitar), and Mike Rivard (bass, sintir), the band’s energetic interplay and deep respect for each other’s cultures create an unexpected and beautiful display of music without limitations.

As soon as Balla Kouyaté was old enough to sit up, his father placed a mallet in his hand. If their 800-year-old lineage of balafon players were a baobab tree, Balla would be its newest branch. The Kouyaté family are griots — or djelis — from the village of Niagassola on the Mali-Guinea border. In West African culture, djelis are more than eminent musicians; they are storytellers, historians, soothsayers, and peacemakers who transmit oral history across generations. Through Djékady, Kouyaté’s deep-rooted musical heritage finds new expression alongside American folk and contemporary sounds, allowing new shoots to sprout from his ancestral musical tree.

Kouyaté, a Grammy Award–winning balafon virtuoso who lives in nearby Medford, has also received the National Endowment for the Arts’ National Heritage Fellowship — the highest honor the United States bestows on a traditional artist. He has been featured in Rolling Stone, profiled by Eliot Stein for the BBC, and highlighted in Stein’s book Ancient Wonders. Kouyaté is also a longtime member of the acclaimed Silkroad Ensemble, founded by Yo-Yo Ma.

Mike Block, a Grammy Award–winning cellist and Somerville resident, has been hailed by Yo-Yo Ma as the “ideal musician of the 21st century.” A pioneering multi-style cellist, composer, and educator, Block is likewise a longtime member of Silkroad Ensemble. The New York Times has described his performances as “breathless… half dance, half dare,” while Gramophone calls him “one of the bravest, most intriguing musicians on the American fusion scene.”

Block has released more than 20 albums that regularly chart near the top of multiple Billboard categories and is a sought-after arranger and collaborator, performing with artists including Miley Cyrus, Elton John, Bobby McFerrin, Metallica, and Morrissey. Beyond the stage, he founded Play For The Vote, organizing musical performances at polling locations across 48 states to encourage civic participation.

These are global artists — collaborators with legends and performers on the world’s most celebrated stages — yet they are rooted right here in our community. Their performance at Arts at the Armory is a powerful reminder that extraordinary artistry lives among us.

This engagement is supported by a New England Foundation for the Arts (NEFA) NEST grant, allowing Arts at the Armory to expand the impact of the residency beyond the stage. As part of the engagement, Kouyaté and Block will conduct workshops with Somerville High School’s orchestra program, connecting directly with young musicians and sharing their virtuosity, cultural traditions, and lived experience.

Join us in celebrating artists who have carried their artistry across the world — and brought it home.

The Center for Arts at the Armory is located at 191 Highland Avenue, Somerville, MA 02143. To learn more, please visit our website, artsatthearmory.org, our Facebook page, and follow us on Instagram at @ArtsattheArmory. Join their mailing list here.