"As a band leader, Diali Cissokho has a commanding voice, and excellent kora skills; he is clearly a great composer with a visionary approach to the integration of other genres with his Senegalese roots. This album is up there with the groundbreaking recordings of Thione Seck, Baaba Maal and Youssou N'Dour."
Robert Christgau for Noisey / Vice:
‘Routes’ is "a genuinely and often beautifully syncretic evocation of a double identity that would be hard to match and impossible to duplicate."
‘Routes’ is "in its essence Senegalese but with a universality that translates beautifully across cultures."
“‘Routes’ is the perfect showcase for Kaira Ba’s unique fusion of Senegalese and American musical traditions, as well as a demonstration of cross-cultural collaboration and mutual respect between band members who welcomed an immigrant to their community.”
“‘Routes’ by Diali Cissokho & Kaira Ba is not just some clever experiment, it is an album of incredible music. Despite being a really wonderful example of cultural cross pollination, in the end you forget about all that and simply enjoy the sound of what they have created. From the heart-stopping drum and flute introduction to the album's closing song, "Night in M'Bour" to the simple beauty of "Saya", the album is full of magical moments. Listening to it is a joy from start to finish.”