Celebrated African singer and guitarist Habib Koité and his band Bamada perform a mix of rock, folk and traditional African music
Internationally renowned singer, songwriter and guitarist Habib Koité and his band Bamada perform hits from their most recent album Afriki on Sunday, March 14, 2010 at 7:00 PM at the Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts. Dubbed Mali's biggest pop star by Rolling Stone Magazine, Koité is known for the way he effortlessly blends the musical traditions of his homeland with the rock and folk sounds of the Western world.
This is the second performance of the 2009/10 Penn Presents African Roots Series, which featured a sold out performance by the Soweto Gospel Choir in January 2010 and concludes with the Grammy® nominated, percussion driven, vocal ensemble Linda Tillery & The Cultural Heritage Choir on April 30, 2010 at 8:00 PM.
One of Africas most popular and celebrated musicians, Habib Koité hails from the West African nation of Mali. Famous for his unique approach to playing the guitar, Koité 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 Koité and Bamada released their fifth album Afriki, about the strengths and challenges of the African continent, in 2007.
Koité 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 Cafe."
In 2001, Habib Koité 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 (Koité and Bamada made a guest appearance on Raitt's 2002 album Silver Lining).
Habib Koité last appeared at the Annenberg Center in 2004.
Pre-Show Enhancement Events
Enjoy the tastes of Mali prepared by Bintou Restaurant of Germantown, PA, beginning at 5:30 PM in the Annenberg Center Lobby followed by a special pre-show chat with Habib Koité. This event is free to ticket holders and is sponsored by the African Studies Center at the University of Pennsylvania.
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