Martin Cradick (UK) - guitar, founded Baka Beyond after visiting the Baka Pygmy hunter-gatherers in the Cameroon rainforest in 1992 with his wife Su Hart.
Su Hart (UK) - vocals, played in several bands and travelled extensively song gathering before living with the Baka and learning from them. Apart from singing in Baka Beyond she teaches about the singing of the Baka.
Paddy Le Mercier (France) - violin, originally from Brittany, the Celtic part of France. Now lives in Toulouse, France. Played on first album, Spirit of the Forest, and has been with the band since the beginning.
Seckou Keita (Senegal) - percussion, he joined Baka Beyond in 1998. Although he is the percussionist with Baka Beyond he is also a skilled kora player, playing solo concerts at WOMAD in Australia and Singapore.
Tim Robinson (UK) - drums, joined Baka Beyond in 2000 at short notice when their Senegalese drummer was refused a visa just before a national tour. Session credits include the Oscar-nominated animation, Welsh-language folk music and TV drama.
Denise Rowe (UK) - vocals, dance, father Jamaican, mother British. Grew up in Midlands, UK. Has studied dance in UK & Ghana as well as with the Baka in SE Cameroon. She joined Baka Beyond in 2000.
Kibisingo Douglas (Congo) - bass, now lives in London. Has toured across Africa, Europe and America with Zairian legend Kanda Bongo Man. Has recently joined Baka Beyond adding an authentic Congolese root to the music.
Ayodele Scott (Sierra Leone) - percussion, came to UK as a theatre and dance performer in 1987. He founded Kabudu dance company and has worked extensively in UK in African Dance and education. Joined Baka Beyond in 1997.
Nii Tagoe (Ghana) - percussion, born in Accra, Ghana, into a royal family from whom he inherited his talent for drumming, dancing and singing. He came to Britain as a principal dancer and drummer in the Adzido dance company. Joined Baka Beyond in 1997.
Many and varied from Jimi Hendrix to Fela Kuti to Can, but especially the music brought by individual band members and the music of the Baka in Cameroon:
Formed in 1992 after a visit to the Baka Pygmies in the Cameroon rainforest, Baka Beyond has evolved into a multicultural dance band with members from 6 countries in Africa and Europe. The band is about to release their eighth albums, "Baka Beyond the Forest" on 4th May. Listen here
To get an early copy join the band's mailing list using the form below....
To promote the new album Baka Beyond will be touring through May in UK.
As Denise is busy with dance projects we are pleased to announce that Molara, Fela Kuti’s niece and the original voice of dub dance pioneers Zion Train, will be touring with us.
3 minute video of Baka Beyond headlining Edmonton Festival, Canada. . . .
Spirit of the forest (1993) is a collection of songs inspired by the first visit to the Baka Pygmies in Cameroon. 10% of royalties go to the Baka through Global Music Exchange [buy]
The Meeting Pool (1995) was the next album of songs inspired by the traditional melodies of the Baka tribe in Cameroon. [buy]
Journey Between (1998) featured guest musicians from Ghanaian band Kakatsitsi laying down traditional Ghainian rhythms to form the percussive roots of this album. [buy]
Sogo (2000) came into being when Martin Cradick invited 4 musicians from West Africa and 4 musicians from the Celtic fringes of Europe to join Baka Beyond for an extensive tour. While playing together, new songs evolved that are a fusion of individual talents and traditions. [buy]
East to West (2002) came into being a decade from the first visit to the Baka. Their influence is still strong on this CD which features traditional melodies from Cornwall and Scotland. [buy] [listen]
Rhythm Tree (2005) was partly recorded in the depths of the Cameroon rainforest and partly at home in the studio. The tracks feature traditional melodies which combine with West African guitar cycles and percussion. [buy] [listen]
Baka Live (2006) Recordings from their 2006 tour with 7 Baka musicians from Baka Gbiné who travelled from the rainforest to UK. [buy] [listen]
After you've finished here, you may like to hear this poem sung on myspace...
Poem 162 of 230, WalkaboutsVerse (please see my blog): TEES TO TYNE: FIRST IMPRESSIONS - SUMMER 2001
Where traditions are not so rare; Sea, country and works scent the air; A multitude of monuments, Planted tubs and patterned pavements.
The longish pedestrian malls; The remnants of defensive walls; Historic buildings are a gauge Of the respect for heritage.
Wheat, rape and pines in the fields; Estuaries guarded by shields; Long sandy beaches and wide scenes; Romantic-ruin go-betweens.
Rivers in parts licked by trees, Or fringed by boat clubs, wharfs, gantries, And crossed by practical delights - Varied spans, forming pleasing sights.
Fine churches headed at Durham; Football kits ad infinitum; Kept castles - one for study; Masonry behind masonry.
And, with moulding-works out that way, It’s somewhere for a longer stay..?
feel free to order my latest CD "WATER DEALER" for € 12,99 / $ 19,37(shipping included) at our shop http://www.iapetus-store.com
the first 40 persons who will order the CD and pay via PayPal will get the bonus CD "Dubaware Soundsystem" for free!! prosperous time for you...
Its been a while and we thought it was about time we updated you on what we've been up to. Our debut EP Little World is now available at our gigs and will soon be available from our myspace and facebook pages, you will also be able to download it from itunes, but we don't have a release date for this as yet.
To celebrate the fact that we have now reached 25,000 plays on myspace, we are giving you a free MP3 of Rockabye Baby. All you have to do is send your email address to queen.elvis@yahoo.ie and we will send it to you.
We have spent the last year rehearsing with a full band and are now ready to bring it on the road. You can get a look at us when we appear on Balcony TV this week with the full line up. We are currently taking bookings for gigs/concerts/festivals and can be contacted on the email above, or through our myspace and facebook pages.
Thankyou for your continued support in what has been a great year for us!
Just got home from seeing you this evening at the Fawcett Center..
From the ROW 5 BAND to you.. thank you for the moves & the music that makes my soul smile. YOU ROCK! The first time I heard of you was at the Dublin Irish Festival and I danced my heart out.. never concerned with anything beyond your stage for an entire Friday night at the festival.
The other five members of Row 5 are members of my family.. we have the best family & you helped us to celebrate that with you.
Martin Cradick (UK) - guitar, founded Baka Beyond after visiting the Baka Pygmy hunter-gatherers in the Cameroon rainforest in 1992 with his wife Su Hart. 
Paddy Le Mercier (France) - violin, originally from Brittany, the Celtic part of France. Now lives in Toulouse, France. Played on first album, Spirit of the Forest, and has been with the band since the beginning.
Tim Robinson (UK) - drums, joined Baka Beyond in 2000 at short notice when their Senegalese drummer was refused a visa just before a national tour. Session credits include the Oscar-nominated animation, Welsh-language folk music and TV drama.
Denise Rowe (UK) - vocals, dance, father Jamaican, mother British. Grew up in Midlands, UK. Has studied dance in UK & Ghana as well as with the Baka in SE Cameroon. She joined Baka Beyond in 2000. 
Kibisingo Douglas (Congo) - bass, now lives in London. Has toured across Africa, Europe and America with Zairian legend Kanda Bongo Man. Has recently joined Baka Beyond adding an authentic Congolese root to the music.
Ayodele Scott (Sierra Leone) - percussion, came to UK as a theatre and dance performer in 1987. He founded Kabudu dance company and has worked extensively in UK in African Dance and education. Joined Baka Beyond in 1997.
