Supported by a partnership with the New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park, former Rising Resident Sidiki Conde returned to the woods in March 2023  along with his long-time guitar player Wowo Souakoli. The duo will host multiple African music workshops for the New Orleans Community and regularly perform at the Jazz Park.

Sidiki Conde used his original residency to immerse himself in the culture, nature, and music of the region and compose a series of songs about climate change. Sidiki collaborated with Dr. Michael White for a performance and panel on the music of the African Diaspora at FORESTival moderated by former resident Monique Moss and featured Congolese drummer Papa Titos Sompa. Additionally, Sidiki worked with the National Park Service to record a video filmed at A Studio in the Woods with Dr. Michael White and his band focused on our region’s environmental challenges and creativity’s role in addressing them.

Wowo Souakoli is a master of the Guinean guitar. His music is firmly based on the balafon, (Malinke xylophone) traditions that have been around since the thirteenth-century founding of the Mali empire. Souakoli’s use of a plectrum (pick) together with his guitar technique, renders the traditional music of Guinea in a modern context.

See Sidiki and Wowo’s schedule (Dates below are tentative): 

March

Friday, March 24, 2023 – 2pm – 3pm – New Orleans Jazz Historical Park Jazz Center
Friday, March 24, 2023 – 6pm – 8pm – Interactive performance – Ree Alario Gym
Saturday, March 25, 2023 – 1am – 4pm – Belle Chasse – FishSTOCK!
Friday, March 31, 2023 – 2pm-3pm – New Orleans Jazz Historical Park Jazz Center 

April 

Saturday, April 1, 2023 – 10am – 11am – Teach Park Drum Program
Friday, April 7, 2023 – 11am – 1pm – New Orleans Jazz Historical Park Jazz Center
Saturday, April 8, 2023 – 10:30am-11:30am/1pm-2pm – Teach Park Drum Program
Wednesday, April 12, 2023 – 12pm-1pm – Midday Series Concert
Friday, April 14, 2023 – 2pm – 3pm – New Orleans Jazz Historical Park Jazz Center
Saturday, April 15, 2023 – 11am – 12pm – New Orleans Jazz Historical Park Jazz Center  African Drum&Dance Program
Thursday, April 20, 2023 – 2pm – 3pm – Jazz Museum
Friday, April 21, 2023 – 11am – 1pm – New Orleans Jazz Historical Park Jazz Center
Saturday, April 22, 2023 – 10:30am-11:30am – Teach Park Drum Program
Saturday, April 22, 2023 – 11am – 3pm – NOLA Autism Festival (484 Sala Ave. Westwego)
Thursday, April 27, 2023 – 2pm – 3pm – Jazz Museum
Friday, April 28, 2023 – 11am – 1pm – New Orleans Jazz Historical Park Jazz Center
Saturday, April 29, 2023 – 10:30am-11:30am/ 1pm-2pm – Teach Park Drum Program

May

Friday, May 5, 2023 – 11am – 1pm – New Orleans Jazz Historical Park Jazz Center
Saturday, May 6, 2023 – 10:30am-11:30am; 1pm-2pm – Teach Park Drum Program