Bio — Lamine Sonko

An interdisciplinary artist, Lamine Sonko’s work as a composer, multi-instrumentalist, theatre director and film-maker draws on traditional African embodied knowledge to create multi-artform experiences inspired by his cultural background as a guewel (cultural role) of the Sing Sing clan and Korings of Kaabu, and a member of the Serer, Wolof and Mandinko cultural communities of Senegal. Sonko’s work is informed by a lifetime of learning embodied cultural knowledge within his community, guided by elders through participation in sacred rituals and ceremonies including rhythmic, chant and dance traditions. With his distinctive traditional vocal style, alongside kora, sabar percussion and guitar he defines new ways to re-imagine the traditional African, contemporary synthesis in music.

Sonko trained with the traditional ensemble ‘Ballet Fambondy’ (Senegal) and joined Swiss-based theatre company ‘Compagnie des Cries’ before moving to Melbourne in 2004. He subsequently established himself as a leading composer and performer of afro-jazz, afro beat and African art music, writing award-winning music and performing throughout Australia and internationally, including with 10 piece band, ‘Lamine Sonko & The African Intelligence’, winners of The Age Music Victoria 2018 award for Best Global Album. He has composed music for Grammy-winning album ‘Winds of Samsara’ and collaborated with artists across multiple genres, including composition for film presented at Melbourne International Film Festival & Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival (UK). In 2022 he presented his debut documentary film ‘DEUP’ at Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI), Melbourne.

Sonko is director of 13.12, an international project, bringing together artists, cultural elders, communities and academics to present multi-artform experiences and interdisciplinary research. As director and composer he has developed new theatre work ‘guewel’ in collaboration with the National Theatre of Dakar. Sonko has also delivered workshops and research seminars in composition and West African music at Australian National University, University of Melbourne and University Cheikh Anta Diop (Dakar).

AWARDS

2018- The Age Music Victoria Awards >> Best Global Act for 'Cool Out Sun' (Nominated)

2017- The Age Music Victoria Awards >> Best Global Album for 'Afro Empire' (Winner)

2015- The 58th Grammy Awards >> Best New Age Album for 'Love Language,' (Nominated)

2014- The 57th Grammy Awards >> Best New Age Album for 'Winds of Samsara' (Winner)

2012- Victorian African Community Awards >> Artist of the Year (Winner)

2010- ARIA Awards >> Best Global Album for 'Do Anything, Go Anywhere' (Nominated)

DISCOGRAPHY

2023 Taamo (single) >> Lamine Sonko

2017 Afro Empire >> Lamine Sonko & The African Intelligence

2015 Love Language>> Wouter Kellerman

2014 Winds of Samsara >> Wouter Kellerman

2011 Afro Mandinko >> Afro Mandinko

2010 Do Anything, Go Anywhere >> The Public Opinion Afro Orchestra

2010 Journey of Hope >> One Africa

2008 Desert Red >> Simmer

2007 Mandaela >> Asiko

PERFORMANCES & APPEARANCES

PRESS

Interview with ACMI about Lamine Sonko’s short film DEUP

"It is not only hearing the words and understanding the stories that is crucial, but the vibrations and soul felt in the music are also uplifting" - THE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD

"Not only is he an extremely talented musician but also an incredible singer and dancer, The audience was lucky enough to witness true African Music, and be exposed to African tradition from musicians that have such a beautifully rich cultural background." - THE AU REVIEW.

A day in the life of a culture keeper - ABC RADIO NATIONAL