Lamine Sonko & The African intelligence burst onto the Australian music scene back in 2014 delivering a crowd-stopping performance to over 50,000 at Federation Square in Melbourne. A big band sound of African roots music, jazz and reggae, the 10 piece ensemble capture ancient pulsing rhythms accented by talking drum and virtuosic electric guitar.

The band is fronted by the charismatic, Sonko, one of Australia’s most celebrated African artists. Praised for his compelling melodies and distinct percussive blend of the traditional and contemporary, Lamine is modernising West African music while maintaining the essence of ancient sounds and stories.

Sonko joins Eric Gyors on Drive. They talk the big band sound, African beats and Sonko plays some tracks from The African Intelligence show.