The Acoustic Africa Tour returns to the United States of America with two of the finest live world music acts from Africa, Malian musician Habib Koite and South African vocalist Vusi Mahlasela. The tour begins Saturday, March 19, 2016 in San Francisco, California and will conclude on Sunday, April 17 in Somerville, Massachusetts. Acoustic Africa provides music fans a rare opportunity to experience their favorite African artists in intimate settings.
Vusi Mahlasela is known as ‘The Voice’ in South Africa, celebrated for his distinct, powerful voice and his poetic, positive lyrics. Raised in the Mamelodi Township, where he still resides, Vusi became a singer-songwriter and poet-activist at an early age teaching himself how to play guitar and later joining the Congress of South African Writers. After his popular album debut on BMG Africa, When You Come Back, Vusi was asked to perform at Nelson Mandela’s inauguration in 1994.
Vusi has shared the stage with Dave Matthews Band, Sting, Paul Simon, and Taj Mahal, among many others. Possibly his biggest concert was in 2010 when he helped ring in the World Cup in South Africa, at Orlando Stadium in Soweto. Vusi has released seven studio albums to-date: When You Come Back (1992), Wisdom of Forgiveness (1994), Silang Mabele (1997), Miyela Afrika (2000), Jungle of Questions (2000), Naledi Ya Tsela – Guiding Star (2007) and Say Africa (2010). His latest release is Sing to the People (ATO Records), a celebratory live recording looking back on twenty years since his first album.
A modern singer-songwriter and virtuoso guitarist with extraordinary appeal, Habib Koité is one of the leading artist from West Africa. Habib Koité and his band Bamada became one of the first African artists to appear on Late Night with David Letterman, a popular TV comedy and variety show in the United States.
To date Habib Koité has sold over 250,000 albums, and he continues to build his profile through a very active calendar of tour dates. His discography includes Soo, Muso Ko, Afriki, Brothers in Bamako, Baro, Ma Ya and Foly Live Around the World.
Tour Dates:
Saturday, March 19 at Herbst Theater – San Francisco, CA
Sunday, March 20 at The Green Music Center – Rohnert Park, CA
Tuesday, March 22 at Cargo Concert Hall – Reno, NV
Thursday, March 24 at Fox Tuscon Theater – Tucson, AZ
Friday, March 25 at MIM Music Theater – Phoenix, AZ
Saturday, March 26 at Luckman Fine Arts Complex – Los Angeles, CA
Monday, March 28 at Kuumbwa Jazz Center – Santa Cruz, CA
Tuesday, March 29 at John Van Duzer Theatre – Arcata, CA
Thursday, March 31 at Aladdin Theater – Portland, OR
Friday, April 01 at The Triple Door – Seattle, WA
Saturday, April 02 at The Triple Door – Seattle, WA
Tuesday, April 05 at Cedar Cultural Center – Minneapolis, MN
Wednesday April 06 at Old Town School Of Folk Music – Chicago, IL
Friday, April 08 at McCain Auditorium – Manhattan, KS
Sunday, April 10 at Academy of Music – Northampton, MA
Wednesday, April 13 at The Grace Rainey Rogers Auditorium – New York, NY
Thursday, April 14 at Lisner Audtiorium (GW University) – Washington, DC
Friday, April 15 at Weis Center (Bucknell) – Lewisburg, PA
Saturday April 16 at Stewart Theater (NC State) – Raleigh, NC
Sunday, April 17 at Somerville Theater – Somerville, MA
Author: World Music Central News Room
World music news from the editors at World Music Central
