Maarika Autio----------------------------------------------------------------------------------back to musicians
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Maarika began her music studies with piano, following in her father's footsteps. In West-Africa the piano keys changed into mallets: she started learning the art of heptatonic balafon in Dakar, at times doing 10 hour days, Guinean born Alsegny "Mayeli" Camara as her teacher. Today Maarika' main instruments are concert marimba and balafon - the latter she plays with Wonuwali (pics).
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Maarika's reputation as a malletist has spread far: she has travelled with her instruments in concert tours from China to Cuba and along the coast of West-Africa ( Cissokho Dielykunda led by kora virtuoso Solo Cissokho, Good People's Band, Duo Diambar, Wonuwali etc). Maarika has been listed in Finnish Concert Center's artist catalogue since -99, performing even in the remotest corners of Finland (Duo Diambar, now also Stilimba). In addition to playing music, Maarika is also a classically trained professional dancer.

Maarika's musical ambitions drive her into experiments and composing her own music. She writes songs at least in Finnish, Wolof, French and English. Nowadays the best known band of her own is Stilimba, which fuses West-African tunes with Scandinavian, Caribbean and South American influences. Maarika gives workshops in the art of balafon, West-African dance and theatrical impression (www.dunia.fi ). In addition to these Maarika free lances as an illustrator, graphic designer, even journalist - proving once again how running about is the true essence of a free lancer's life...