HABIB KOITÉ, ALY KEÏTA, LAMINE CISSOKHO – Mandé Sila

One of Africa’s most popular and recognized musicians, Habib Koité is a modern troubadour with extraordinary appeal due to his musicianship, wit, and wisdom. Koité’s history with The Cedar runs deep – he’s performed here 6 times, dating back to 2008, and we are excited to welcome these world-class artists back to our stage.

Malian guitarist Habib Koité is one of Africa’s most popular and recognized musicians.

Habib comes from a noble line of Khassonké griots, traditional troubadors who provide wit, wisdomand musical entertainment at social gatherings and special events. Habib grew up surrounded by seventeen brothers and sisters, and developed his unique guitar style accompanying his griot mother. He inherited his passion for music from his paternal grandfather who played the kamele n’goni, a traditional four-stringed instrument associated with hunters from the Wassolou region of Mali. “Nobody really taught me to sing or to play the guitar,” explains Habib, “I watched my parents, andit washed off on me.”

Habib was headed for a career as an engineer, but on the insistence of his uncle, who recognized Habib’s musical talent, heenrolled at the National Institute of Arts (INA) in Bamako, Mali. In 1978, after only six months, he was made conductor of INA Star, the school’s prestigious band. He studied music for four years, graduating at the top of his class in 1982. (In fact his talent was so impressive, that upon graduation, the INA hired him as a guitar teacher).

During his studies, Habib had the opportunity to perform and play with a series of recognized Malian artists, including Kélétigui Diabaté and Toumani Diabaté. He sang and played on Toumani Diabaté’s 1991 release Shake the World (Sony), and Kélétigui Diabaté became later now a fulltime member of Habib’s band.

Habib takes some unique approaches to playing the guitar. He tunes his instrument to the pentatonic scale and plays on open strings as one would on a kamale n’goni. At other times Habib plays music that sounds closer to the blues or afrocuban, styles he studied under Khalilou Traoré a veteran of the legendary Afro-Cuban band Maravillas du Mali.

Aly Keïta, a virtuoso of the Balafon, was born in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. From his youngest age, he was introduced to the instrument by his father, himself a Balafon player.

The West African musician gained worldwide recognition for his mastery of the balafon, which he has been playing since childhood, and has now made it to the side of the best: Omar Sosa, Joe Zawinul, Rhoda Scott, Paco Séry, Pharoah Sanders, Paolo Fresu, L. Subramaniam, Trilok Gurtu & Jan Garbarek, Shai Maestro, Hans Lüdemann Trio Ivoire, to name just a few.

Today, Aly Keïta lives in Berlin and connects musical worlds with the impressive virtuosity. He wanders between spectacular African rhythm, polyphony and jazz elements, and combines them to create a wonderful and unique sound world – two magical hands and a thousand and one strokes.

In 2022 Aly Keïta has won the German Jazz Prize in the category “Special Instruments”.

“I want my music to be alive and full of energy, hope and love, music that I can share with the audience and through which the audience and I can share our joy.”