Spellemann Winner Sidiki Camara Prepares New Album Ankaben
Following his 2023 Spellemannprisen win for Return to the Traditions, Sidiki Camara is preparing to release a new album titled Ankaben. The album will be released on September 4, 2026, after a lead single on August 21, and will be launched live at Cosmopolite Scene in Oslo on October 18.
Ankaben means “Humanity,” and Camara has placed that concept at the heart of the record. For him, music is a way to connect people across cultures, genres and borders. He has said the album is about meeting through mutual respect and spontaneous creation.
The project brings together an exceptional Norwegian ensemble. Bendik Hofseth contributes saxophone, Unni Løvlid adds vocals, Sarah Camille appears on vocals and spoken word, Erik Sollid plays fiddle, Jacob Young and Eirik Askerøi play guitar, and Audun Erlien plays bass. Their contributions help shape the album’s blend of Malian roots, jazz, folk and contemporary expression.
Camara’s international career gives the project a deep historical foundation. He has worked with Boubacar Traoré, Bill Frisell, Ali Farka Touré, Mamady Keita, Karpe and Esperanza Spalding, and contributed to Frisell’s Grammy-winning album Intercontinentals. In January 2026, the Malian government also honored him with the “Attestation De Reconnaissance” for his contribution to Malian culture.
Before and after the release, Camara is scheduled to appear at several Norwegian events, including Drammen Sacred Music Festival on September 16, Djembe Tekno at Holmlia Kulturhavn on September 19, and a Sidiki Camara Group performance at Holmlia Kulturhavn on November 7. Ankaben stands as both a musical statement and a call for togetherness.