SUPER YAMBA
Barbès376 9th St, New York 11215
Super Yamba plays Barbès on January 9. The Brooklyn group draws its material and approach from 1970s and 1980s West African Afrobeat and psychedelic funk, pointing toward the deep, groove-led repertoire associated with Orchestre Poly-Rythmo, Super Djata Band, Ebo Taylor and Fela Kuti. No special guest or one-off program is listed for this date, so the focus is the band’s own set.
Based in Brooklyn, Super Yamba has built its sound around those West African reference points rather than treating them as a passing accent. The group regularly collaborates with Afrobeat and juju guitarist and singer Leon Ligan-Majek, also known as Kaleta, and with Osei Korankye, Ismael Kouyate and Mamadou Mbengue. That network of collaborators places the band in ongoing conversation with musicians connected to Afrobeat and related West African traditions, while its stated inspirations reach from Fela Kuti’s Afrobeat to the funkier, psychedelic edges of the era.
Barbès offers a compact, warmly worn space where the music feels immediate and close, with a long wooden bar and a back room under a scarlet ceiling that hosts nightly performances. The venue champions a broad spectrum of global sounds, from Balkan brass and klezmer to Afrobeat and experimental jazz, often featuring residencies like the Slavic Soul Party. The audience gathers around small tables or at the bar, sharing drinks crafted with a nod to French spirits, while the music invites attentive listening rather than loud conversation. Shows usually have a suggested donation instead of a cover charge, creating a welcoming environment where the focus is on the artists. The venue’s commitment to accessibility and its role in Brooklyn’s cultural fabric make it a distinctive spot for an evening of richly diverse live music.