What's On

Programme

Sidiki Dembélé Tama
John Playford Wallom Green
Sidiki Dembélé Ita
Henry Purcell The Old Bachelor Z. 607: Hornpipe
Nwando Ebizie For You, small in the embrace of untethered, unwinding possible futures (world premiere)
Traditional Johnny Faa
Sidiki Dembélé Chefari Dundun

Interval

Henry Purcell The Virtuous Wife Z. 611: Air, Timon of Athens Z. 632: Curtain Tune
Sidiki Dembélé Shaka, Siniensigui
Edmund Finnis Hymn (after Byrd)
Emily Hall So Far
John Playford The Virgin Queen
Sidiki Dembélé Teriya, Djikunu

Featuring arrangements by Rakhi Singh, Bjarte Eike, Will Newell and Ali Vennart

Performers

Sidiki Dembélé Ensemble:
Sidiki Dembélé djembe, calabash, ngoni
Fatima Damango vocals
Morybo Kone dundun
Solo Diabate balafon
Mike King bass guitar

Manchester Collective:
Rakhi Singh creative direction, violin
Nicky Sweeney, Simmy Singh, Kaylee Ramella violins
Ruth Gibson, Lucy Nolan violas
Peggy Nolan cello
Alan Keary bass guitar

About

An exhilarating musical journey, where West African and European traditions call out to each other.

Join Manchester Collective’s string ensemble, percussionist extraordinaire Sidiki Dembélé and his band for folksong and storytelling from the Ivory Coast, Mali and Senegal. Born out of his family’s griot tradition of West African oral history and music, Sidiki’s work ‘Teriya’ (‘friendship’ in Bambara) celebrates where our roots intertwine.

Our destination is the musical meeting point between cultures. Guiding us there and directing from the violin is Rakhi Singh. Hear the old anew with her bold reimaginings of classical and folk tunes, baroque mixed with African percussion, and plenty of improvisational magic along the way.

Adding her own colours to this vibrant palette is Nwando Ebizie. The Northern composer and multidisciplinary artist creates a brand-new work filtered through her very own Afrofuturist vision. Drawing from the power of ancestral heritages and rites, her piece looks to the future by calling on the spirits of the past.

Constellations is a human experience of sharing and connection. You can be sure that rhythm will be your friend here.

Photo credit: Mike Skelton

Constellations is supported by the Leche Trust, Maria Björnson Memorial Fund and Radcliffe Trust. Nwando Ebizie’s new work is commissioned by Manchester Collective with support from the Cockayne Foundation and Vaughan Williams Foundation.

Tickets

Full Price £24.50
Student/Under 26 £16.50
Affordable £10

Promoted by RNCM.

Affordable Tickets

We want everyone to have the opportunity to engage with our performances. That’s why across the 2026/27 season we’ve introduced a limited number of Affordable Tickets, available to anyone who feels they may benefit from this option. More information is available on our How to Book page.

Inspirational Artists Multibuy Offer

Book more and save. Automatically save 20% off your tickets when you book two to three events in this series or save 30% when you book four or more. Bookings must be purchased in a single transaction, and this promotion cannot be combined with any other offers or discounts.

This event includes an interval and will end at approximately 9.50pm.