Valérie Ekoumè and Ayman Jarjour

Among a diverse early musical diet of African songs and grooves alongside classic American pop, French-Cameroonian singer Valérie Ekoumè’s early role models included both Miriam Makeba and Whitney Houston - her “virtual vocal coaches”. After eight years’ touring as a member of Manu Dibango’s Soul Makossa Gang, she’s released two arresting solo albums of richly soulful ballads and dancefloor-friendly Afropop, most recently 2017’s Kwin Na Kingué.

Ayman Jarjour was born in Damascus, Syria and now lives here in Scotland. His repertoire includes works with Spanish, Latin American, Classical, Middle Eastern and Modern flavours. He has performed in the Middle East, Europe, the United States, Africa and the Far East where he has played concertos with orchestra, chamber music and solo concerts. He produced a CD of his Carnegie Hall concert programme. Ayman studied in Madrid and at the Juilliard School in New York. He currently plays an instrument made by Egyptian luthier Jean-Paul Haggar. Ayman is involved with many charities working to help refugees and people affected by the war in Syria and has just become the official Arts and Culture Ambassador for Scottish Refugee Council.