Karim Chajry, Naamu, Nabalüm

The Moroccan singer, guitarist and composer Karim Chajry has lived in Vienna since 2006 and has established himself as an outstanding artist who builds musical bridges between cultures. In his latest musical development, he performs under his own name and presents a varied program of new compositions that combine his deep-rooted love for the music of the Maghreb with modern genres such as jazz, funk, blues, reggae and rock. For his concert at the Sababu Festival '25, Karim has put together a seven-piece band of renowned musicians in Vienna. This talented group brings their diverse skills and experience to the performances, creating a dynamic and engaging musical experience. Karim Chajry's new pieces deal with universal themes such as "home, society, politics...", inspired by his own journey as an artist between worlds. His poetic lyrics reflect the challenges and beauties of life in the diaspora. In his music, listeners find a new form of authenticity that captivates with its emotional depth and musical diversity. Karim Chajry's latest concert program shows him as an innovative and soulful artist who celebrates his Moroccan roots while breaking new musical ground. His concerts are not only a celebration of cultural diversity, but also an invitation to the audience to discover his musical world in a new and exciting way.

Naamu is the latest project of bass guitarist Teun Creemers and reflects his deep fascination for West African music. The band masterfully weaves styles such as Wassoulou and Gnawa with jazz and groove music, resulting in a unique sound they describe as "Malinke Groove Jazz". Teun released the groundbreaking and titular album Naamu in 2023, for which he collaborated with Dutch jazz musicians and West African artists, including renowned Kamale N'goni player Harouna Samake and singer Kankou Kouyaté. The album was recorded in studios in the Netherlands, Mali, the USA and France and was warmly received internationally with laudatory reviews in renowned media such as Songlines and Jazzism. Naamu was nominated for a prestigious Edison Award in the "Global" category in 2023.
"Naamu is a thoroughly entertaining outing full of earthy grooves and stunning vocals." - Songlines Magazine, June 2023 - Daniel Brown
In 2024, Naamu toured leading venues and festivals in the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium with Malian singers Kankou Kouyaté, Aminata Dante and Yacouba Sagara. This special line-up was enthusiastically received and received positive reviews. In 2025, the band will go on tour with balafonist Mamadou Diabate and perform in the Netherlands, Germany and Austria.

Nabalüm is an author, composer and performer. Born in Abidjan, the capital of Côte d'Ivoire, she was born into the music of her home country and has been deeply connected to her roots ever since. She is self-taught and sings in Mooré, French and Malinké. Her songs tell of the life of African youth in general as well as of social challenges and encourage girls to go to school, among other things. Her points of reference are big names in African music such as Asa, Ismaël Lô, Fatoumata Diawara, Lokua Kanza and Bruno Mars. Nabalüm's Afro-soul music highlights her powerful, velvety and emotional voice. In 2014, she took part in a singing competition organized by Ivorian state television, where her professional career began. Her first EP "Myamê" was released in 2016, for which she received the "Visa pour la création" from the Institut Français de Paris. In the same year, she benefited from a three-month residency at the Cité des Arts de Paris.
Her first concert took place in May 2016 at the Bellevilloise (Paris). This was followed by an African tour in 2017 (the "visa pour la création" tour) through 10 African countries, including Guinea, Ghana, Madagascar, Rwanda, Djibouti, Sudan and Burundi. She played at the Institut français d'Abidjan at FEMUA II the following year. In July 2018, Nabalüm released her album Saké, which was very well received not only in Burkina Faso. Since then, she has performed on many stages and caused a sensation at the last edition of MASA 2024 in Abidjan. Nabalüm was named best female artist at the Kundé d'or 2024. From the stages of Cameroon to the Pan Piper in Paris, "La Blackqueen", as she likes to be called, is a permanent fixture in Burkinabe and African music.

Program and cast

Karim Chajry
Karim Chajry: vocals
Daniela Tanase: vocals
Edith Lettner: alto, soprano saxophone, duduk
Franz Haselsteiner: piano, accordion
Mike Scharf: guitar
Christophe Petschina: bass
Walid El Harch: drums
Habib Samandi: percussion

Naamu
Teun Creemers: bass
Jesse Schilderink: tenor saxophone
Jelle Roozenburg: guitar
Lauriane Ghils: kamale n'goni, percussion
Yannick van ter Beek: percussion
Tuur Moens: drums

Nabalüm