Based in Montreal but consisting of musicians from Senegal and Guinea in addition to Canada, Takadja uses instruments such as the balafon, kora, kirin logdrum and djembe drums. The group, founded and led by Francine Marzal since the late '70s, also includes the drum-master Sekou Camara Cobra, Oumar N'Diaye, Naby Camara, Nathalie Dussault and Robert Lepine. A self-titled debut album, produced by Steve Roach, was released by Celestial Harmonies in 1995. ~ John Bush