Song:Wassiye
Album:Putomayo Presents Africa
Habib Koite is one of Mali's top musicians. He's not known in North America. Some of his albums aren't released here. But famous musicians admire him and want to work with him. He was born Jan. 27, 1958 in Thies, Senegal. His grandfather taught him to play guitar. Koite was planning to be an engineer. But his uncle convinced him to attend the National Institute of the Arts in Bamako, Mali in 1978. Koite was made conductor of the school band. And after he graduated in 1982, the school hired him as a guitar teacher. He also played with guys like Toumani Diabate. He formed his own band Bamada in 1988. His big break came in 1994 when Michel De Bock became his manager. He owns the Belgian company Contre Jour specializing in African music. Wassiye is from Koite's 1998 album Ma Ya. It was released in the US by Putomayo. And they release plenty of various artists world music CDs. Wassiye is on Putomayo Presents Africa which is available as a budget CD. Ma Ya is available but it's too expensive. In 2001, Koite appeared on Late Night with David Letterman. Jackson Browne and Bonnie Raitt visited him in Mali. Koite appeared on Bonnie's 2002 album Silver Lining. Koite toured with Art Ensemble of Chicago. And he recorded the 2012 album Brothers in Bamako with blues singer Eric Bibb. Koite's latest album Kharifa was released in 2019. It looks like he is recording solo now. But he could reform Bamada in the future. Here's Habib Koite performing Wassiye in 2008.
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