Dikanda in Wrocław: folk inspirations from the Szczecin band known from Sziget festival

Dikanda is a word meaning family in one African dialect, and it perfectly captures the band’s spirit: they live and work like a small family.

The group formed in Szczecin in 1997. A love of traditional music and hard work enabled them to create their own style and original sound. Their entirely acoustic repertoire reveals influences from Eastern culture and Balkan folklore, including Macedonian and Romani traditions. A distinctive feature of Dikanda's style is inventing new words and meanings in their own compositions.

They have released 4 albums, played hundreds of concerts and appeared at many major European festivals. They have won numerous awards and distinctions, including:

- First prize and the audience award at “Nowa tradycja” festival in 1999; – First prize at “Eurofolk” festival in 1999; – Third place in Folk Album of the Year for “Jakhana Jakhana” in 2002; – First prize and the audience award at “Folkherbst 2004” in Plauen; – Album of the Year 2005 from Germany's “Folker” magazine for “Usztijo”

Dikanda’s concerts are a unique journey through world music: a spirited encounter full of energy, charisma, genuine emotion, joy and moving moments for both the audience and the band.

They have played in the Asian part of Russia, India and most European countries, appearing at numerous festivals including Montreux Jazz Festival, Sziget Festival in Budapest and Rudolstadt, and twice at the Opole festival. They have won popularity and enormous audience affection in many Western European countries, particularly Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

Their discography comprises “Muzyka czterech stron wschodu” (2000), “Jakhana, Jakhana” (2002), “Usztijo” (2004) and “Ajotoro” (2008).

Dikanda are: Ania Witczak – vocals, accordion; Kasia Dziubak – violin, vocals; Kasia Bogusz – vocals; Daniel Kaczmarczyk – drums; Piotr Rejdak – guitar; Grzegorz Kolbrecki – double bass.

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