Music
06 Nov 26

Members of BIIRD and Huartan collaborate with kora player Senny Camara in Senegal

Photo: Ambassade d'Irlande au Sénégal - @sene_sira_09

"Two traditions, two cultures, one celebration..."

The traditional music cultures of Ireland and Senegal met this week, for SénéGaels – a special new collaboration between members of both BIIRD and Huartan, and renowned Senegalese singer and kora player Senny Camara.

The Irish musicians involved include Múlú, Ciara Ní Mhurchú, Zoran Donohoe, and Laura Doherty.

The first SénéGaels event took place as part of the Festival Au Tour Des Cordes in Saint-Louis, on the northwest coast of Senegal, yesterday. They're also set to play a free public concert at Place de la Nation in the capital city of Dakar this evening, November 6.

Their visit coincides with the Youth Olympic Games, which is currently underway in Dakar – as the first ever Olympic event to take place on African soil.

"We’re thrilled to welcome some of Ireland’s most talented traditional musicians and members of BIIRD to West Africa this week to perform with Senegalese kora virtuoso Senny Camara for an exciting new musical collaboration, SÉNÉGAELS," the Irish embassy in Senegal wrote online. "Two traditions, two cultures, one celebration..."

Trad supergroup BIIRD have built up a major international fanbase over the years, with over 170,000 followers on Instagram, and support slots around the world.

Huartan – of which Múlú is also a member – also continues to expand its audience overseas, with gigs in Glasgow, Manchester, and London scheduled for January 2027.

Funded by the News Reporting Scheme.