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Sample Track 1:
"Mali Ba" from Afriki
Sample Track 2:
"Nta Dima" from Afriki
Layer 2
CD Review

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Toronto Star, CD Review >>

No fewer than 23 guest musicians and vocalists appear with Habib Koite's regular five-piece band on this sparkling, mainly acoustic album by one of West Africa's most popular singer/songwriters. In his first release in six years, Koite as usual ventures beyond his own Bambara traditions of southern Mali to borrow sounds (and musicians) from other regions of the country. And as usual, along with his delightful guitar playing, he brings a fundamentally optimistic outlook to supbjects on everything from romantic love to economic development.

Top Tracks: The title song "Afriki (Africa)" and "Mali Ba." Both feature a female chorus-a first for Koite and regular band member Keletigui, Mali's master of the wooden keyboard, or balafon

By John Goddard
 01/01/08 >> go there
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