COMPOSERS: Habib Koité
LABELS: Putumayo
WORKS: World
PERFORMER: Habib Koité (vocals, guitar) and Bamada
CATALOGUE NO: PUTU 146-2 (distr. New Note)
Habib Koité represents the next Malian generation, playing acoustic guitar and enjoying the region’s rhythmic diversity while placing his own songs in a firmly contemporary setting. Their accompaniments are resourcefully layered, the soft, lithe voice delivers cutting lyrics. He is more self-conscious about holding on to tradition than the older musicians.
In the music he does it subtly, deploying a range of plucked and beaten instruments over a driving electric bass, but the words are a bit reactionary when it comes to ‘the perpetuation of our customs’, particularly women’s customs.