Mark Ernestus’ Ndagga Rhythm Force^DE/SN

With an exquisite blend of ancestral sounds and cutting-edge audio design, Mark Ernestus’ Ndagga Rhythm Force will bring us face to face with the inexhaustible life force of music and the primal love of sharing it, with their debut in Mexico for Edition 20.

From Dakkar, Senegal, the Ndagga Rhythm Force ensemble is dedicated to keeping the flame of the mbalax tradition alive, music and dance that starts with powerful polyrhythms created with traditional instruments such as the djembe and tama, to which strings and wind instruments have gradually been added. From the audio console and as a producer, Mark Ernestus enhances the powerful sounds of the ensemble, connecting us with the influence of mbalax in dubstep, techno and other electronic sounds.

Before beginning his exploration of Senegalese music, Mark Ernestus established himself as one of Europe’s most intriguing and influential producers with projects like Basic Channel and Rhythm & Sound, alongside reggae powerhouses Jennifer Lara and Sugar Minott, and founded the legendary Berlin record store Hard Wax in 1989. Tony Allen, Konono No. 1, Tortoise are just a few of the acts he has remixed.

In 2011, during an in-depth journey through Dakkar, Mark Ernestus lived up close to different families and clans of mbalax percussionists, singers and musicians, recording two albums as “Mark Ernestus presents Jeri-Jeri.” And every summer since 2012, as Mark Ernestus’ Ndagga Rhythm Force, the ensemble presents a new iteration of their music on intensive tours in theaters and festivals. 2024 is the first year that they include a date in Latin America, as part of MUTEK MX Edition 20.