Pirate’s Choice Internationale will present the first annual JuJu Fest during Jazz Fest 2015, with artists from Senegal, Mali and the U.S.

The festival, a celebration of West African music in the U.S., will feature Toubab Krewe, Benyoro and Raja Kassis’ humanBEING, as well as special guests including Yacouba Sissoko, Khris Royal, Magatte Fall, and Morgan Price.

Over the years, Toubab Krewe’s Luke Quaranta has brought together many West African artists living in the States and their American counterparts, starting with the Musicians for Mali benefit in NYC during Mali’s time of crisis in 2012.

Other West African Music programs followed, like Weedie Braimah‘s Kreative Pandemonium, the SuperMandé Jam with Balla Kouyate, and at this year’s Purple Hatter’s Ball with Toubab Krewe, Benyoro, and Raja Kassis’ humanBEING.

Pirate’s Choice is a collective of musicians that  initially started as a conversation between Luke Quaranta and Justin Perkins of Toubab Krewe, Raja Kassis of Antibalas and Raja Kassis’ humanBEING, and Sam Dickey of Benyoro and Toumani Diabaté. The group seeks to to explore and expand upon the music of Africa, particularly West Africa, and its deep connections to American popular music and other diasporic styles.

JuJu Fest will run from April, 24 to May 6, presenting live shows in various venues around New Orleans, including Chickie Wah Wah, Blue Nile, Maison and the Maple Leaf.