Celebrated African singer and guitarist Habib Koité and his band Bamada perform a mix of rock, folk and traditional African music
March 2, 2010Special pre-show event features a discussion with Habib Koite and a special taste of Mali prepared by Bintou Restaurant of Germantown
One of Africas most popular and celebrated musicians, Habib Koite hails from the West African nation of Mali. Famous for his unique approach to playing the guitar, Koit performs with his own group, Bamada (translation: in the mouth of the crocodile), comprised of Malian musicians who he has been friends with since childhood. As a group, they have performed nearly 1000 shows since exploding onto the world music scene in 1994 and have sold 250,000 albums to critical acclaim. Habib Koite and Bamada released their fifth album Afriki, about the strengths and challenges of the African continent, in 2007.
Koite has been featured in hundreds of newspapers and magazines including People Magazine, Rolling Stone, Le Monde and Vanity Fair Magazine. He has also been featured in the United States on National Public Radios All Things Considered and WXPNs World Caf. In 2001, Habib Koite and Bamada became one the few African artists to appear on The Late Night with David Letterman. His artistry has earned the admiration of such fans as Jackson Browne and Bonnie Raitt (Koite and Bamada made a guest appearance on Raitt's 2002 album Silver Lining).
Habib Koite last appeared at the Annenberg Center in 2004.
Pre-Show Enhancement Events
Enjoy the tastes of Mali beginning at 5:30 PM in the Annenberg Center Lobby followed by a special pre-show chat with Habib Koite. This event is free to ticket holders and is sponsored by the African Studies Center at the University of Pennsylvania.
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