“Kalabancoro” Gets a New Feel with Ginton, Richard Bona and Salif Keita

Amsterdam-based producer and guitarist Ginton takes a measured yet meaningful step with his rework of “Kalabancoro,” the 2003 track originally created by African icons Richard Bona and Salif Keita. Released via Decca and Universal Music, this updated version does more than modernize the arrangement—it seeks to uphold the message and mood of a song rooted in Mali’s social unrest.

What sets this remix apart is Ginton’s refusal to center himself in the narrative. Keita’s unmistakable vocals remain untouched, and the original emotional weight of the track is preserved. Ginton instead enhances the framework: a more urgent tempo, layered percussion, and subtle Afro-Latin guitar tones that complement rather than compete with the track’s core. His choices reflect an understanding of the song’s significance as a piece of cultural memory, not just music ripe for reinterpretation.

Ginton, known for his work with Drake, Gordo, and Afro-pop artists like Stonebwoy and Mr. Eazi, has built a reputation for bridging genres. With “Kalabancoro,” he continues this trajectory, but with more restraint and purpose. His experience as a jazz-trained guitarist is evident in the track’s phrasing and balance—he’s not looping for the sake of danceability but sculpting around the song’s existing shape.

This remix arrives not as a career-defining flex, but as a thoughtful continuation of Ginton’s cross-cultural ethos. While his previous productions have leaned into club-ready hybrid styles, “Kalabancoro” serves a different function: it invites listeners to revisit the past through a contemporary lens, without distorting its original intent.

At a time when remix culture often strips tracks of their context, Ginton offers an alternative model. His version of “Kalabancoro” doesn’t erase history—it amplifies it, carefully, respectfully, and with a clear musical conscience.