The musicians in Baka Beyond are from 6 different countries in Africa and Europe:

Martin Cradick

Guitar, mandolin, percussion and producer

Cornish father, Welsh mother, grew up in Kent, now lives in Bath.

After several years surviving by busking round the world and playing with many musicians met on the way he pioneered World Music fusion in 1988 with didgeridoo player Graham Wiggins in the band “Outback”. Founded “Baka Beyond” after visiting the Baka Pygmy hunter-gatherers in the Cameroon rainforest in 1992 with his wife Su Hart.  He regularly returns to Cameroon and stays with the Baka in the rainforest to oversee charity projects and to get further inspiration from playing plenty of music with them.

Su Hart

Vocals, percussion,

British, grew up in Gateshead, Tyne & Wear, now lives in Bath.

Grew up singing in church and clubs singing many traditional Geordie songs (from Newcastle/Northumberland).  Survived by busking, played in several bands and travelled extensively song gathering before living with the Baka and learning from them.  Apart from singing in Baka Beyond she teaches children and adults about the singing of the Baka.

Paddy Le Mercier

Violin, whistles, bombarde (traditional Breton reeded instrument)

Originally from Brittany – the Celtic part of France, grew up in Paris & now lives in Toulouse, France.

Played on first album, Spirit of the Forest, and has been with the band since the beginning.

Played with French Folk-Rock band, Malicorne as well as Outback and Baka Beyond.

Met Martin while they were both living in Oxford in the early 1980s and they have played together ever since.

Ayodele Scott

Percussion (djembe, sogo, ning nong, kongoma)

Grew up in Freetown, Sierra Leone

Came to UK as a theatre and  dance performer in 1987.  He founded Kabudu dance company and has worked extensively in UK in African Dance and education.

Joined Baka Beyond in 1997 and is influenced by the street culture of Freetown and the Mendi culture of Sierra Leone.

Seckou Keita

Percussion (djembe, panlogo, sogo, tama, calabash) kora (African Harp)

Mother from the Cissokho family of griots from Mali

Grew up in Ziguinchor, Casamance, southern Senegal.

Nephew to Solo Cissokho with whom he also regularly plays

Martin met  him in Ziguinchor but it was not until he moved to UK in 1998 that he joined Baka Beyond.

Although he is the percussionist with Baka Beyond he is also a skilled kora player, playing solo concerts at WOMAD in Australia and Singapore as well as supporting both Salif Keita and Youssou N’Dour when they came to Britain

Sam Djengue

Bass

From Douala, Cameroon, now lives in London.

He played his way across Central, West and North Africa until he came to Britain in 1992.  He has worked extensively in both the London and Paris Afro-Jazz scene, backing many big African stars when they visit Europe.

Has been playing with Baka Beyond since 1998 and links Baka Beyond to the spirit of Cameroon.

Tim Robinson

Drums

From UK, lives in Bristol

He joined Baka Beyond in 2000 at short notice when their Senegalese drummer was refused a visa just before a national tour.  Before then he had already enjoyed a varied playing career with session credits that include Oscar-nominated animation, Welsh-language folk music and TV drama. He has recorded dozens of albums for many different artists and toured extensively with, among others, cult favourites Stackridge and jam-band pioneers Daily Planet.

Denise Rowe

Singer, dancer, Percussion

Father Jamaican, mother British

Grew up in Midlands, UK

Has studied dance in  UK & Ghana as well as with the Baka in SE Cameroon.

She joined Baka Beyond in 2000.