African folk music has always flourished under ideal conditions, so to speck, for music is very much a part of life and life itself closely linked with the free expression of feelings and emotions. African drums - Tam Tams - are played everywhere and on all manner of occasions - at family celebrations, religious ceremonies or simply to add some cheer to everyday chores. Every kind of occasion has its own particular rhythms.
But the slave trade with America robbed the Africans of their identity. They were even forbidden to make music, their most important means of communication, and were especially denied the use of their drums. The Whites even wanted to force their own culture on their slaves. As a result black musicians frequently tried to free their music from all faces of European influence.

"Susu Bilibi", a modern African band from Togo, on the other hand, sets out to enrich its own local traditions, such as "High Life" with additional material from the Euro-American musical scene.

These musicians from Togo see themselves both as singers and prophets. They seek to reconcile the dark spirits of the soul with bodily pleasures by menus of their music and dance. Their music is percussive and they use Maracas (rattles), African bells, cleaves, Hooches and other traditional instruments. They sing in two Togo languages - Ewa and Ana - songs which tell of peace and togetherness.