The Faranas

The Faranas is a Bern-based collective founded in 2003 by vibraphonist Dominik Alig. What began as a Fela-inspired Afrobeat project evolved into an original Pan-African sound powered by tight grooves and bold horn writing. The band’s core features Fabian Bürgi (drums) and Toni Schiavano (bass), with Senegalese singer-percussionist Mory Samb bringing a griot-rooted voice since 2009. Trumpeter-composer Adrien Oggler adds West African inflections and arranging depth, while Malian guitarist Baba Salah (from Gao) folds a distinctive, melodic drive into the ensemble. Mixed in Berlin and Barcelona with Ben Abarbanel-Wolff and Jochen Ströh, the album Run Run (Everest Records, 2014) fuses traditional West African rhythms, modern Malian music, and Afrobeat into kinetic, danceable songs—music forged across borders and grounded in collective energy.

Bern, Switzerland / Gao, Mali