With her phenomenal technique and groove ability, Manou Gallo has projected herself into the front-line of the world's bassists, an impressive trajectory from humble beginnings in the city of Divo, where she took to playing the drum from an early age, through moving to Abidjan to join the emblematic Ivorian ensemble, Woya, where she had an epiphanous encounter with an electric bass that set her on her new path, which in 1997 took her to Brussels at the invitation of Zap Mama and on the road around the world. Feted by her heroes such as Bootsy Collins and Manu Dibango, both of whom collaborated on her appositely named debut album, Afro Groove Queen, she now fronts her own band pouring out an empowering blend of strong African roots flavoured with funk and jazz and pure soul.