Slí na Croí are an Irish based ensemble headed by Barra Ó Flanniagh delivering both performances and training in traditional Malinké percussion & song from upper Guinea, West Africa. Barra O' Flanniagh Bio
Barra O’Flannaigh is a Sligo based performer, teacher and lover of traditional. Over the past 10 years his training center 'Slí na Croí - Malinké music of upper Guinea' has grown to become the
go-to place those looking to further their training and understanding in traditional village style Malinké percussion & song from upper Guinea, West Africa. Barra has been self funding field trips to West Africa to study since 2011 , totalling 7 such trips such far, the last of which made possible by funding from The Arts Council. Studied with Malo Sonko Senegal 2011
Bangali Conde Gberudu, Guinea 2013
Ibrahim's Conde Sankaran, Guinea 2013
Laye Kouyaté, Hamana, Guinea 2015
Sakala Conde. Hamana, Guinea 2016
Sakala Conde , Hamana Guinea 2017
Laye Kouyaté , Gberudu , Guinea 2018
Sakala Conde, Hamana, Guinea 2019
European studies have included time with Billy Konate, Nansady Keita, Iya Sako & Daniel Preissler. He's been hosting West African musicians over to Ireland for performance and teaching since 2011 including Malo Sonko (4 visits), Iya Sako (2vists), Billy Nankouma Konate (2 vists). Barra has been studying the local language of upper Guinea ‘Maninka’ since 2013 to help more fully understand the songs and the culture itself of the Malinké people. He is the founder and director of the performance ensembles Djoussou Kan, Koma, and Slí na Croí ensemble. Aswell as this he has been a member of the West Africa ensemble Fakoli and a guest musician with Manden Express. Barra was the co-founder and organiser of The Secret Village Festival which huge success in Co. Roscommon for 6 consecutive years (2013-2018). Most recently he is the founder and organiser of the new Kondon drum and dance festival which concentrates solely on Malinke dundun and djembe music. It is a new festival first ran in 2019 and was a huge success. Preparations for a fully booked Kondon 2020 had to be postponed until current situation allows.
2018 and 2019 brought a busy schedule for his ensembles Koma and Slí na Croí with stage & fete style performances including teaming up with Billy Konaté son of world renown grandfather of Malinké music Famoudou Konaté for performances in Whelans & The Big Bang Festival along with some gigs at Hotter Than July Festival, Electric Picnic, BodynSoul, LiveStock, Galway Arts Festival & Battle for the Lake Festival to name but a few. Summer of 2020 was fully booked but due to the current pandemic these bookings were also cancelled. Last November he directed and recorded an album with Slí na Croí ensemble called ‘Niandan Croí’. It is the first album in this genre of music ever to be recorded by Irish musicians. This album was highly received within the west African precussion community of Ireland. Barra is currently working on R&D for recording a second album in 2021 focusing on traditional dundunba rhythms of Upper Guinea with the possibility of collaborations. Barra O Flanniagh 086 1656464
Email - [email protected]
Insta -
Facebook – www.facebook.com/barra.oflanniagh/
www.facebook.com/SliNaCroi/
