Ngánga is a family ensemble with roots in both Denmark and Cuba – founded by percussionist Rune Harder Olesen, who is omó añá-initiated and has many years of experience with Afro-Cuban music. Together with his Cuban wife, singer and dancer Raisa Castro, and their daughters Sophia and Cecilia Castro, he has formed a group deeply rooted in the Afro-Caribbean tradition.

The band also features Danish-Cuban guitarist Yasser Pino, Danish bassist Anders Christensen (AC), and Gambian kora player Dawda Jobarteh.

The word Ngánga originates from the Bantu culture of West Africa and means both musician and spiritual healer – a dual meaning that runs through the group’s expression: spiritual, powerful, and polyrhythmic. Their repertoire blends original compositions with new arrangements of traditional Afro-Cuban songs and rhythms – music rarely heard outside of Cuba, here brought to life in an intense and deeply engaging concert experience.