Selected Collaborative Work

‘Sanu’ — Kora Collaboration — Casamance

This video shows a live collaboration between Sim Torino and kora player Dialy in The Gambia. It reflects Sim’s interest in listening-led musical exchange and in working responsively with West African string traditions. The collaboration is built around dialogue: adapting to Dialy’s phrasing, rhythm and melodic structure while bringing Sim’s own musical voice into the exchange.

‘Sanu’ (also written ‘Sanou’) means gold in Mandé — and here gold signifies not wealth but incorruptibility: a warrior or noble who cannot be bought, swayed or compromised. The melody has deep roots in the Casamance and historic Mali, tracing back to a resistance song called Bani (“refusal”), which commemorated a 19th-century battle against colonial troops. Griots — the hereditary musicians of the Mandé tradition — shaped that melody into ‘Sanu’, carrying its meaning of principled resistance forward through generations of performance.

‘Mali Sadio’ — Mandé Song Collaboration

In this collaboration with Guinean musicians Hannah and Moh, Sim Torino explores Mali Sadio, a celebrated song from the Mandé griot tradition. The piece brings together rhythm, poetry, voice and storytelling, and reflects Sim’s interest in responding carefully to musical material rooted in oral tradition. It is part of his wider move towards deeper, listening-led collaboration with musicians connected to West Africa.

‘Yelalel’ — Imsouane Collaboration — Morocco

In Imsouane, Morocco, Sim Torino worked for several days with musicians Yaya and Simo on a piece shaped by ideas of light, rhythm and shared musical exchange. The collaboration draws on Amazigh and Arabic influences, with language rooted in Tashelhit. It reflects Sim’s interest in working slowly with musicians in place, allowing a piece to emerge through listening, repetition, improvisation and the meeting of different musical voices.

‘Tonya’ — Studio Collaboration, The Gambia

Tonya means “truth” in Mandinka. This clip documents a studio collaboration with Gambian artist Robin Hustler, with Sim Torino contributing production, drums and mandolin. The phone audio has been left deliberately, rather than replaced with the finished studio recording, to preserve the live energy of the session: ideas being tested, shaped and responded to in the room. The piece shows Sim’s interest in contemporary West African collaboration, where voice, rhythm, production and instrumental exchange develop through shared process.