A modern festival devoted to the balafon, is the ‘Triangle du Balafon’, which takes place annually in Sikasso, Mali’s second largest city.

This 7th edition of the Triangle du Balafon festival is coupled with Mali’s festival season. The festival is a manifestation and testimony to Mali’s rich cultural activities and is said to be, to this day ‘a benchmark for integration through culture’.

This year, Bwazan worked closely with Neba Solo in preparation for this competition and were awarded second place for their performance, behind Mamdou Diabaté (Burkina Faso).  Bwazan recorded professionally with Neba Solo after this festival. In 2009, Bwazan’s lead balafonist, Kalifa Koné was awarded the annual ‘prix de la virtuosité’, at this festival in recognition for his performance and skill.