From Bamako to Nairobi!  - Madou & Doucoura from Mali take Nairobi by Storm

In July 2025, Upstage proudly hosted the first-ever East African tour of Madou & Doucoura, a powerful acoustic trio from Mali led by master percussionist Djeli Mahamadou Kone. Known for their blend of tamani, n’goni, balafon, the group brought the sacred pulse of Malian rhythm to stages across Kenya and Uganda.

Upstage served as the official tour manager, curating a packed performance schedule across more than ten venues. Audiences experienced their electrifying live sets at locations including Alliance Française Nairobi, The Carnivore's Simba Saloon, The Alchemist, Dunga Hill Camp Kisumu, Alliance Française Mombasa, Geco Café, Watamu Beach Cottages, and Milege Festival in Entebbe, Uganda.

The tour featured powerful local collaborations. Kenyan vocalist Akoth Jumadi, multi-instrumentalist Kake Wakake (strings and percussion), and Nigerian saxophonist Olesegun joined the group on various stages, blending regional sounds with Malian tradition in unique and memorable ways.

Supported by Urgent Africa, this tour marked a major milestone for Upstage in bringing world-class African music to East African audiences and deepening artistic exchange across the continent.