History background

Dembo Jatta (The Rootsman)  is a Gothenburg-based artist and music group that was started 15 years ago and consists of singers and musicians from The Gambia, Senegal, Brazil and Sweden.

The music is strongly rooted in the West African tradition with a focus on drums and traditional drumming. Popular traditional songs are performed, but “The Rootsman” also wants to broaden and mix other musical expressions and styles from, for example, Jamaica, the USA and Europe.

Popular afropop with electric bass meets Swedish blues guitar in a mix with new and own songs. The songs are in Mandinka, English and Swedish. The aim of the group’s performances is to convey a genuine musical joy and a dance friendly turn that enables both young and old to sing and dance.

The important thing is not what ethnic or cultural background one has, but that the audience is invited to travel with them, into the mysterious realm of the African rhythms. The band perform in such diverse contexts as market parties, festivals, club gigs, association meetings and school performances.

 Dembo The Rootsman is flexible in terms of the audience and their wishes, as well as the group’s composition and number, from two, up to many musicians.

All depending on circumstances and wishes of the organizers. So far there is an official full-length CD, Albuloo (2010) and the second album Nice To Be Nice (2020). In 2011 Dembo Jatta was awarded the East Gothenburg Culture Prize and in 2012 he appeared live in TV4 Nyhetsmorgon, a morning TV show.

 Permanent musicians

Dembo Jatta, vocals, djembe. Dembo is the group’s founder and came to Sweden from Gambia in 1989. He has been active as a musician since his early teens and toured in England, Finland, Sweden and the USA.

He has appeared in TV4 in Bingo Lotto, as well as the film Lust without Border. Dembo also works with dance and theater.

Åke Ziedén, guitar, bass, production. Åke Ziedén has worked with music since his teens, as a musician and music teacher. He has toured in Sweden and Europe with the Swedish group Tribute and the French group Gong, and participated in records and recordings with them. Now he is recording and producing Dembo.

Lamine Faty, djembe & cajong. Lamine comes from Senegal but has also lived and played in Spain. He is a “master drummer” on the typical hand drum from West Africa. Lamine also sings and performs his own material.

David Törnebäck, keyboard. David has roots in both Brazil and Sweden and plays in all kinds of genres and styles, with a clear Latin American touch. David has played with many musicians and groups and been nominated for his performances in studio contexts.

 

By Dawda Baldeh