Aly Keïta’s album Balafon Evolution has been submitted for 2026 GRAMMY® consideration in the Best Jazz Instrumental Album category. “I put a lot of dreams, ideas, and work into this album. Behind these dreams are more than 13 generations of the Griot tradition I inherited, and more than 30 years of searching for the balafon of the future.”

The world’s largest balafon has been presented at UNESCO — brought from Berlin to Paris by its creator, Ivorian balafon master Aly Keïta. The three-metre instrument, created by Aly and his brothers, was transported from Berlin to Paris in a specially arranged vehicle. Invited by the Permanent Delegation of Côte d’Ivoire to UNESCO, Aly represented his country in a joint showcase of the West African balafon and the Indonesian kolintang, celebrating the cultural practices associ

WDR 3 has dedicated a full one-hour edition of Open World to Aly Keïta. In the programme, journalist Babette Michel calls him “the king of the balafon” and explores how he has transformed the traditional West African instrument into a powerful voice in contemporary jazz and improvisation. The programme also features an interview with Aly himself. It is centred primarily on Aly’s latest album, Balafon Evolution (One World Records 2026), while also presenting other periods, col