Congratulations are in order for fiddle duo Julaba Kunda, who have won the latest round of the Battle Of The Bands competition.

Their winning song, 'Pijin Jalen' is a celebratory piece of dance music, suitable for a Fulani wedding ceremony or a Scottish céilidh, and will appear on the forthcoming album The Rough Guide To Undiscovered World.

Joy and laughter my friends! Our daughter is getting married! 
She has kept her youth for her husband, so let’s gather round and sing her praises. 
Sweet bride, do not cry! Listen to my sweet melodies, 
Our lovely and precious daughter. 
Today is your day and we are proud of your strength. 
As you sit on a mat at your mother’s door dressed in white 
Surrounded by your bridesmaids it’s difficult not to shed a tear. 
We wish you well and bid you farewell. May you be happy! 
May your husband and his people love and honour you! 
May your joy and laughter never end! 
Peace and joy all the days of your life, our daughter! 
That is what we wish for you because you kept your youth for our honour.

Listen to the winning song, 'Pijin Jalen'

Julaba Kunda 

Juldeh Camara: riti, percussion, vocals, kologo
Griselda Sanderson: bones, fiddle

Julaba Kunda is a collaboration between two outstanding traditional fiddle players with their roots 3,000 miles apart. In particular, they examine the relationship between the west African riti, a one-stringed fiddle of ancient design, and its European cousins, the bowed stringed instruments of the violin family and the Swedish nyckelharpa. This musical meeting features fiddling traditions ranging from the Fulani people of west Africa to Scottish waulking songs, jigs and reels. Juldeh and Griselda explore differences and similarities in their playing techniques, combining older styles with more modern ones to emphasise the oral traditions of their people.

Juldeh Camara is a hereditary griot who grew up in Casamance in Senegal and the Gambia, where he was trained in traditional skills by his father. By the age of fifteen he was leading a group of ceremonial musicians. He has gone on to tour the world with various bands and in 2010 won a prestigious Songlines award for his collaborative work in the UK, which was presented to him by Peter Gabriel during the WOMAD festival. He is a prolific songwriter and composer and has featured on numerous recordings, most recently his collaboration with Justin Adams.

Griselda Sanderson has violinists on both sides of her family going back several generations. She grew up in Clackmannanshire, where she picked up traditional Scottish fiddle styles from around the country. She also plays the nyckelharpa, a Scandinavian bowed keyed fiddle and her album Harpaphonics featuring the instrument was listed in the UK Sunday Times ‘top ten best world music albums of 2009’. 

For more details check out their website: http://www.myspace.com/julaba-kunda