BAKA BEYOND has a 5 member touring core:

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. 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 runs workshops for children and adults about the singing and life of the Baka.

Molara
Vocals, percussion

Neice of Fela Kuti and the original singer of the Dub Trance pioneers, Zion Train. Molara has been singing with Su in Baka-5 for the last year. Her amazing voice and stage presence pushes Baka Beyond into new realms. She joins Su and Denise in the "Extravaganza" shows.

Nii Tagoe
Percussion, vocals

Born in Accra, Ghana, into a royal family from whom he inherited his talent for drumming, dancing and singing. He came to Britain as a principal dancer and drummer in the Adzido dance company. Joined Baka Beyond in 1997. Runs a dance troupe Frititi

Kibisingo Douglas
Bass

From Kinshasa, Congo, now lives in London.
Has toured across Africa, Europe and America with Zairian legend Kanda Bongo Man. He joined Baka Beyond in 1995 adding an authentic Congolese root to the music. He teaches Congolese "Rumba" style bass and has produced a tutorial DVD.

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listen to the 5-piece live

Read a review of a 5-piece gig

Often Baka are joined by Celtic Breton fiddler Paddy Le Mercier (from France) with his unique wild violin style.

Paddy Le Mercier
Violin, whistles, bombarde

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.

For large stage shows the band can grow to a 7 or 8-piece with dance, visuals and more percussion and drums with:

Denise Rowe
Singer, dancer, Percussion

Dancer, singer and mbira player, Denise Rowe has roots in Jamaica and the UK where she grew up. Over the last ten years, Denise has studied dance in Ghana, Senegal, Zimbabwe, the UK and with the Baka in the Cameroonian rainforest. As well as Baka Beyond, Denise performs with Sakoba Dance Theatre, Spirit Talk Mbira, Chimanimani and has her own dance company, Tolo Ko Tolo. Denise has seven years experience of leading traditional and contemporary pan African dance workshops around the world and has created a number of short films. She joined Baka Beyond in 2000.

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 the 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.

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.

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