Cape Breton University’s Centre for Sound Communities Celebrates International Album Release with Smithsonian Folkways

Cape Breton University and the Centre for Sound Communities (CSC) are inviting the public to attend a unique, hybrid celebration for the release of Bala, a groundbreaking new album by Malian master balafón player Lassana Diabaté. Co-produced by the CSC and released globally through the renowned Smithsonian Folkways Recordings, the album will be officially launched with simultaneous in-person and virtual watch parties on Friday, March 27, 2026.

Bala marks Diabaté’s first exclusively solo balafón album, blending traditional West African Mande music with original compositions inspired by his time as a visiting artist in Cape Breton. The project was recorded entirely on the CBU campus and produced by Dr. Marcia Ostashewski, Founding Director of the Centre for Sound Communities. 

The album is the latest installment in the Sound Communities series, a partnership between CBU and Smithsonian Folkways, supported by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada and the Communauté Francophone Accueillante de la région de Chéticamp, designed to highlight musical projects by artists and communities whose voices have often been underrepresented.

Broadcasting live via Zoom, the album release event will feature Lassana Diabaté joining live from Mali, seamlessly integrated with performances by the local artists and CBU students he collaborated with during his time in Nova Scotia. The lineup highlights the rich cultural fabric of the region, featuring dynamic collaborations with local Mi’kmaw, Acadian and Halifax-based groups, and even CBU students.

“This project demonstrates how university researchers and students work with local communities to produce nationally and internationally acclaimed work,” says Dr. Ostashewski. “These collaborative efforts directly benefit local artists, bringing prosperity to island musicians and communities while sustaining very diverse local musics and cultures.”

To celebrate the release and the deep relationships Diabaté built during his visits, the CSC is hosting a series of in-person watch parties that will feature live music, performed by the same artists who collaborated with Diabaté, alongside the online release broadcast. The gatherings will connect, via Zoom, with each other and with Diabaté, who will join live from Mali. The performances will be followed by a discussion about Diabaté’s music and the making of the album. The event is free and open to the public, offering audiences a unique opportunity to experience a truly global musical exchange.

Event Details:

•       What: Bala Hybrid Release Concert & Watch Parties
•       When: Friday, March 27, 2026, at 7:00 PM (Atlantic Time)

In-Person Locations:

•       Sydney: Centre for Sound Communities, Cape Breton University
•       Halifax: 2439 Gottingen Street
•       Chéticamp: Le Canton culturel, 15118 Cabot Trail, Chéticamp 

Virtual Attendance: Audiences are welcome to join the celebration online. Please note that registration is strictly required for anyone joining via Zoom.

•       Registration Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/7MyCt7GXRjKq1IxYbos1vg

Bala is currently available for streaming and purchase on all major platforms and directly through Smithsonian Folkways.