The cosmology of the African Bakongo people inspired an album of music featuring a traditional Brazilian instrument
On Adriano Adewale Itaúna’s recording Metamorphosis, unique worlds of musical expression come to life.
A new release from Sibelius Academy’s own label, SibaRecords, is out on 12 December.
On the album, Adewale Itaúna’s instrument is the berimbau – an ancient, African-rooted Brazilian instrument. Through its subtle resonance, he explores the dimensions of sound together with other musicians. The album boldly combines the berimbau with the kantele, piano, double bass, percussion, the human voice, and electronics. From this fusion emerges a new, almost meditative expression, where recurring musical structures are never static but constantly evolving and full of life.
“This album has been crafted by a community of individuals – musicians who wanted to come together, create, and be fully present in the moment,” says Adriano.
The music draws inspiration from the cosmology of the Bantu Bakongo people, centred on the circle as a symbol of equality and the cyclical nature of life. In the music, the circle appears in layered repetitions. The album features ensembles of varying sizes and instrumental combinations. In his solo pieces, Adewale Itaúna pushes the expressive boundaries of the berimbau; from the inexhaustible tonal palette of this percussive instrument arise rhythmic melodies that make the listener’s heart beat to the whisper of ancestors.
SibaRecords has been operating within the University of the Arts Helsinki’s Sibelius Academy since 2009, with the aim of making our community’s diverse musical wisdom visible and audible. Its voices are students, teachers, and researchers who have delved into a wide range of questions. Metamorphosis forms part of Adriano Adewale Itaúna’s artistic doctoral studies at the Sibelius Academy.
More information
Pauli Raitakari
pauli.raitakari@uniarts.fi
Adriano Adewale Itaúna: Metamorphosis
- SRLP-1033 / EAN: 6430037170393
- SRDG-1033 / EAN: 6430037170409
- Julkaisupäivämäärä: 12.12.2025
Working group
- Adriano Adewale Itaúna, berimbau, human voice
- Hanna Ryynänen, kantele
- Merve Abdurrahmani, piano, human voice
- Nathan Riki Thomson, double bass
- Orphy Robinson, vibraphone, marimba, electronics
- Recording and audio mixing: Mikko H. Haapoja
- Mastering: Jaakko Viitalähde / Virtalähde Mastering
- Artistic production: Nathan Riki Thomson and Orphy Robinson
- Photographing and graphic design: Fernando do Canto / Tombô
- SibaRecords production: Mirka Rättyä and Pauli Raitakari