"From Njacko Backo and Kalimba! Kalimba!'s opening notes, the music's exotic and hot rhythms had everyone on the dance floor. An inevitable occurrence with this group."

Olivier Bilodeau
Ba Ba Ô h CD Release, Le Métropolitain ( Toronto 2006)

"The king of African kalimba - that's thumb piano to you - is about to entrance to your ears with the magic sounds he conjures from his hand-made instruments.."

Geoff Chapman
Toronto Star

Cadences of the Heart
The Toronto Star, February 20th, 2005

"Njacko is such a nice guy and his music really touched the people who were there. As I'm sure you know, crowds were thin for his sets, for which I feel badly. However, he was the consummate pro and the show went on at the highest level of performance. He's a great talent and I wouldn't hesitate to program him moving forward."
Glenn Sernyk, First Night Toronto

Njacko Backo's thoughts included among those of David Miller and Charles Pachter: Locals look to the year ahead
The Toronto Star

Backo and Kalimba Kalimba's CONSCIENCE OF AFRICA is meant as a 'wakeup call to all Africans: Cameroon artist Backo advocates a unification of African peoples for greater prosperity, and his songs in French and English offer politically-charged perspectives on the modern African condition.

'Respect' is the key, Backo maintains - but listeners needn't be immersed in African politics to either get the messages or enjoy the poly rhythms and instrumentals of CONSCIENCE OF AFRICA, which presents a spirited, upbeat contemporary collection of African songs throughout.

--worlddiscoveries.net

On Njacko's Canada Day 2004 concert in Ottawa...

Njacko Backo's music comes from the soul. In a workshop setting, the audience was completely absorbed by an amazing cultural & musical journey.

Later on in the day, the band's memorable stage performance took place immediately after an electrical storm that took the thousands of Canada Day Participants (and Organizers) by surprise. The energy abounded as the players took the stage and let their infectious rhythms and melodies flow out into the audience. Just as the sun came out, so did a most enthusiastic Njacko Backo and Band... And what a celebration of Life and
Music it was. Merci Merci Njacko Backo!!!

Joel Delaquis
National Capital Commission - Artistic Programming
Commission de la capitale nationale - Programmation artistique

"Cameroon-born Backo, with his dextrous work on thumb piano, has become a mainstay of Toronto's African music scene with his band Kalimba Kalimba."
The Toronto Star

"Marchand de bonheur et marchand d'espoir, son metier n'est possible que dans des atmospheres de joie et de fete."
L'express

"The king of African kalimba entrances your ears with the magic sounds he conjures from his hand-made instruments."
The Toronto Star