Brazilian Bands Today at SummerStage in New York City
SummerStage will present several Brazilian today, Saturday, August 6 in Central Park, Manhattan. The artists featured include Monobloco, Cabruêra, Boogarins, and DJ Luiz Santos. Admission…
Artist Profiles: Fela Kuti
Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, previously Ransome-Kuti, was born in Abeokuta, Nigeria, in 1938. His family belonged to the Egba branch of the Yoruba tribe. His father, like…
Artist Profiles: Abdoulaye Alhassane Toure
Abdoulaye Alhassane was born in 1963 in Niamey (Niger) to a Sonrai family from Gao (Mali). He is a superb multi-instrumentalist, composer, arranger, and producer.…
Artist Profiles: Malouma
Malouma Mint Moktar Ould Meidah was born in the 1960s in Mederdra (Traiza), into a family of griots (singers who work as oral historians). Her…
Caetano Veloso and Gilberto Gil Headliners at the Opening Ceremony of Rio Olympics
Acclaimed Brazilian singers, songwriters, and guitarists Caetano Veloso and Gilberto Gil are set to perform at the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games in Rio…
The Shiny Treasure of Vieux Kante
Vieux Kante – The Young Man’s Harp (Sterns Africa, 2016) I suspect that unseen, undiscovered masters of all shapes, sizes and disciplines brush past us…
Shai Tsabari & the Middle East Groove All Stars to Perform at Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles
Shai Tsabari & the Middle East Groove All Stars are set to perform on Thursday, August 25, at 8:00 PM at Skirball Cultural Center’s Sunset…
Artist Profiles: Daby Touré
Daby Toure had a rural upbringing in Mauritania, but this first solo album betrays his Senegalese family roots. After touring in support of Peter Gabriel’s…
Malian Kora Maestro Toumani Diabate
Toumani Diabate was one of the most brilliant players of the kora (a 21-string harp-lute from West Africa). He was born in 1965 in Bamako…
Artist Profiles: Mamadou Sidibe
Mamadou Sidibe was the first person to change the traditional Malian instrument the doso ngoni, to the now popular kamele ngoni. He changed the number…