[1] The group was founded in the southern city of Bobo Dioulasso by the balafon player, Mahama Konaté, a member of the Senufo ethnic group and a performer with Burkina Faso's national ballet.
The group mainly uses voices and instruments including the balafon, kora, djembe, bara, tama, [doum'doum), shekere, and keyboard.
In 1985, they played at the Montreux Jazz Festival, and in 1988 performed for thousands at the birthday party of Nelson Mandela in Wembley Stadium, London.
They were one of the groups that played in 1999 during the celebration of the 10th anniversary of the House of World Cultures in Berlin.
[1] They have collaborated and recorded with Ryuichi Sakamoto, Jon Hassell, and The Rolling Stones.