Adama Dicko & Seno Blues

The Life of Adama Dicko: A Brief Biography

Adama Dicko was born in 1986 to a nomadic Fulani family in the Sahel region. His parents eventually settled in the northern part of Burkina Faso, near the border with Mali, in a town called Djibo. At the age of seven, he began attending a Madrassa (Koranic school), which he left at fourteen—against his family’s wishes.

In 2000, as a teenager, he set off on a two-day journey on foot, reaching the town of Ouahigouya and then the capital, Ouagadougou. There, he worked various jobs, immersing himself in the language and culture of the local Mossi people. Later, he moved to the city of Bobo-Dioulasso to explore Bambara culture — where he encountered the Kamele N’Goni for the first time.

In 2005, he left Burkina Faso and set out for the Ivory Coast. In Accra, the capital of Ghana, he once again encountered Bambara musicians and stayed with them. At 19, he learned to build and play the N’Goni. His teachers were Arouna, Yacouba, and Samba Diarra—West African storytellers, musicians, and poets (Griots) who played in the traditional style. During this time, he began to develop his own unique way of playing the N’Goni.

„Through music, one becomes a messenger“

Adama Dicko, artist and founder of the Seno Blues musician collective, hails from Burkina Faso in West Africa and has lived and worked in Vienna, Austria, for many years. Adama plays and crafts the Kamele N’Goni—a traditional West African string instrument, similar to a harp, traditionally played by Griots, the storytellers, musicians, and poets of West Africa. He shares his knowledge and passion for the N’Goni through workshops open to all ages. In collaboration with many talented musicians, Adama has produced two albums that showcase a wide musical spectrum and offer a fresh perspective on world music. He is also actively involved in organizing teams for several festivals.