Kamala Kamele is Aino Ruotanen’s solo project, weaving together the dark ballads of Finnish folk tradition with the unique sound of the kamele n’goni. The result is a subtle yet intense whole, where grim stories come alive—sometimes even in a darkly humorous way.

The kamele n’goni, the “young man’s harp,” is a pentatonic instrument from West Africa. Its soft and hypnotic sound intertwines with the haunting narratives of Finnish ballads and folk songs, creating a striking contrast: eerie fates and tales carried by melodic, meditative riffs.

The idea was born when Ruotanen studied kamele n’goni playing in Ghana. Riffs began to flow under her fingers, providing new backdrops for Finnish songs and stories. This became Kamala Kamele—a journey into the deep waters of Finnish folklore through the soundscape of West Africa.