Habib Koité and Bassekou Kouyate exemplify responsibility and shared experience associated with the historical, cultural, and unifying properties of Malian music. One of Africa’s most recognized musicians, Habib Koité is a modern troubadour with extraordinary appeal because Koité’s musicianship, wit and wisdom translate across cultures. Hailing from the musically prolific West African nation of Mali, the guitarist and composer has been named the biggest pop star of the region by Rolling Stone. In a collaboration that differs from any in today’s industry, Koité will be performing with fellow Malian Bassekou Kouyate, a master of the olden lute known as the Ngoni. The effortlessly talented, Grammy-nominated “Ngoni virtuoso Bassekou Kouyate can make notes bend like light rays in the desert heat (Time Out magazine).’ Kouyate’s knowledge and comfortability in a vast array of musical settings actively complements his counterpart’s presence. Recently, Bassekou’s involvement with the critically acclaimed film ‘Mali Blues’ and his exceptional recording have earned him a recognition throughout the world. Over the past decade, Koité’s artistry and magnetic personality have made him an international star, delighting audiences the world over, and placing him firmly among the leading figures in contemporary world music. This collaboration brings innovation and a sense of togetherness to the upcoming season.
There are no tour dates listed for this artist.
HI-RESIMAGES
HABIBKOITÉ ^ Photo Credit: Dirk Leunis
^ Photo Credit: Daniel Sheehan
HABIBKOITÉ & BASSEKOUKOUYATE ^ Photo Credit: Michel De Bock
^ Photo Credit: Thomas Dorn
BASSEKOUKOUYATE ^ Photo Credit: Thomas Dorn
VIDEO
Habib Koite & Bamada – Live Africa Festival Wurzburg (Embed)
From worldmusiccentral.org
INTERVIEW WITH HABIB KOITE
By: ANGEL ROMERO
“What are your fondest musical memories?
If I look back, to see the paths I have been through‘¦First of all, I am passionate about music because I come from a family of griots who belong to an ethnic group that deals with social protocol such as marriage, baptism‘¦ Griots have the...
From AfroPop Worldwide
Habib Koite, Derek Gripper and African Strings
By: Banning Eyre
A special concert unfolded at the Somerville Theatre in Boston on Sun., March 10. […] Koite and his percussionist have a connection deepened and burnished over many years recording and performing together. Also, having played a number of shows on this tour without the expected support of...
From National Public Radio
By Anastasia Tsioulcas
Latitudes: The Film ‘The Last Song Before The War’
One of the best recently released music documentaries ‘” The Last Song Before The War ‘” wasn’t originally supposed to be about music.
American filmmaker Kiley Kraskouskas was living in Germany in the fall of 2010. “I’d previously been doing graduate work in sociology...
From National Public Radio
Heavy Rotation: 10 Songs Public Radio Can’t Stop Playing
By: Emmanuel Nado
For his latest album, Soo, Malian singer-songwriter and guitarist Habib Koite let go of his standard rhythm guitar and replaced it with the banjo, one of the few times I’ve heard a contemporary African pop artist use what’s essentially an African instrument. “L.A.” is...
Home is Where the Heart is for Habib Koité: New Album Soô Spotlights Mali’s Diversity
Guest Appearances by Toumani Diabate and Bassekou Kouyate’“and Habib’s First Banjo
With all the turmoil that has hit Mali since singing guitar master Habib Koité’s last recording, it is no wonder that his February 25, 2014 release, titled Soô (which translates to Home in English),...
From JC Online
Malian guitarist Habib Koité shares message of home through Friends of Bob performance
By: Lauren Sedam
Home.
It is what guitarist Habib Koite’s newest album, ‘Soô,’ means in English, and it is the place where he recorded the effort. But beyond that, home and his homeland ‘” Mali ‘” are the inspiration woven into every chord and...
From The Province
Mali-based guitarist Habib Koite writes about home
Guitarist Habib Koite is a 56 year-old Senegalese musician based in Mali who has lead the West African supergroup Bamada for the past two decades. His music takes traditional styles of the region and fuses them into contemporary, often, Western tunecraft to make some of the most original music coming...
From straight.com
Habib Koité Balances the Traditional and the new
By: Tony Montague
Musical ambassador is a term that’s loosely used, but with Mali’s Habib Koité it’s entirely apt. Not only has the guitarist and singer received the highest award available to an artist in his homeland’“Chevalier du Mérit National’“he’s toured extensively throughout Europe and North America for more than...
From wcbe.org
WCBE Presents Habib Koite Live From Studio A Wed. Feb. 12, 2013 @ 2PM!
By: Maggie Brannan
Malian musician Habib Koite will be performing a few songs during the Global Village ahead of his show that night at The Lincoln Theatre!
You’ll get a little preview of the show and of his new album that will be out...
From Broadway World
Habib Koite to Return to the US for Three-Month Tour; Album SOO Set for 2/25 Release
With all the turmoil that has hit Mali since singing guitar master Habib Koité’s last recording, it is no wonder that his February 25, 2014 release, titled Soô (which translates to Home in English), was recorded in his own home. But...
Here’s a link to Marco Werman’s interview with Habib Koite for the nationally syndicated radio program The World, which aired on Friday the 9th. Habib Koite and Bamada just wrapped up another successful run through North America last week. The band returns stateside in late July for another round of dates. See Habib’s IMN page for more info and a...
Habib Koite Releases First Album in Six Years
News & Notes , April 29, 2008
Click here to listen
After a six-year absence from the recording studio, musician Habib Koité and his band, Bamada, are back with a new CD, titled Afriki.
Farai Chideya talks with Koité about his style of blending the musical traditions of his Malian homeland with...
After a six-year absence from the recording studio, Malian guitarist Habib Koit and his band Bamada return this fall with a stunning new album, Afriki. With more than 250,000 albums sold around the globe, an appearance on the popular television show Late Night with David Letterman, a duet with Bonnie Raitt on her 2002 album Silver Lining and nearly a...
History made at “Putumayo Presents Acoustic Africa,” in New York City
Sean Barlow, Afropop Worldwide
On Tuesday, November 14, 2006, the Afropop Hall of Fame inducted three outstanding artists to its ranks’“Habib Koité, Vusi Mahlasela, and Dobet Gnahoré. Past inductees include Youssou N’Dour, Baaba Maal, the Mahotella Queens, and Thomas Mapfumo. The Afropop Hall of Fame honors artists for their...
‘Foly!’ from Mali’s Habib Koite
All Things Considered, February 12, 2004
Click here to listen to the interview
Malian guitarist Habib Koite issues a new live album, Foly!. The double-disc release is an attempt to capture the flavor of Koite’s live performances, which bring out the many influences in his blend of Afro-pop, from jazz to classical and rock. Music...
His reputation as a guitar player has become almost mythical, combining rock and classical techniques with Malian tunings that make the guitar sound like a kora or ngoni The New York Times
The biggest pop star of the West African nation of Mali Rolling Stone
In his case, the unfamiliarity of the language was no problem, largely because of his communicative manner – kneeling down at the stage edge to interact with the crowd – dancing in unison with his musicians – made such a clear – nonverbal connection with his listeners The Los Angeles Times
Koite’s voracious musical curiosity, broad international fan base, impressive CD sales, and fruitful collaboration with the likes of Bonnie Raitt, Jackson Browne, Eric Bibb and Gary Davis, have made him a prominent global voice Roots