With his sophomore album, 'I Speak Fula,' released just days ago in North America on Sub Pop, Bassekou Kouyate and his pan-Malian orchestra Ngoni Ba have begun a headlining tour of America and Canada for the first time. Even before the release of his first album, 'Segu Blue,' Bassekou had established himself on the forefront of ngoni musicians, in part for being the first to play it with the posture of an electric guitarist- slung over a shoulder and standing.

The lute-like instrument is considered an early ancestor to the banjo. It's this connection that led Bela Fleck on a trip seeking out West Africa's best ngoni players, and to the subsequent collaborations that brought Bassekou and his orchestra on their first U.S. tours, and to appearances on Bela's Grammy-winning 'Throw Down Your Heart, Tales from the Acoustic Planet, Vol. 3: Africa Sessions.'

Check out Bassekou Kouyate's full tour schedule, including his dates with Bela Fleck, after the jump.

Bassekou Kouyate Tour Dates:
02/12, Fri Murray, KY Lovett Auditorium - Murray State University **with Bela Fleck
02/13, Sat Lawrence, KS Liberty Hall **with Bela Fleck
02/14, Sun Urbana, IL Canopy Club **with Bela Fleck
02/16, Tue Oberlin, OH Oberlin's Finney Chapel **with Bela Fleck
02/17, Wed Ann Arbor, MI University of Michigan-Hill Auditorium **with Bela Fleck)
02/18, Thu Athens, OH Templeton-Blackburn Alumni Memorial Auditorium **with Bela Fleck
02/19, Fri Indianapolis, IN Butler University/Clowes Hall **with Bela Fleck
02/20, Sat Omaha, NE Holland PAC **with Bela Fleck
02/21, Sun Chicago, IL Old Town School of Folk Music **with Bela Fleck
02/22, Mon Hamilton, OH Miami University-Parrish Auditorium **with Bela Fleck
02/24, Wed Wilmington, DE Grand Opera House **with Bela Fleck
02/25, Thu Storrs, CT U Conn-Storrs/Jorgenson Center for Performing Arts **with Bela Fleck
02/26, Fri Waterville, ME Opera House **with Bela Fleck
02/27, Sat Lewisburg, PA Bucknell University-Weis Center **with Bela Fleck
03/01, Mon Ottawa, ON CND Dominion-Chalmers United Church **with Bela Fleck
03/02, Tue Brunswick, ME Bowdoin College **with Bela Fleck
03/03, Wed State College, PA Eisenhower Auditorium **with Bela Fleck
03/04, Thu Roanoke, VA Jefferson Center **with Bela Fleck
03/05, Fri Frederick, MD Weinberg Center ** with Bela Fleck
03/06, Sat Atlanta, GA Rialto Center **with Bela Fleck
03/08, Mon Orlando, FL Plaza Theater **with Bela Fleck
03/09, Tue Fort Pierce, FL Sunrise Theatre **with Bela Fleck
03/10, Wed Jacksonville, FL Florida Theater **with Bela Fleck
03/11, Thu Tuscaloosa, AL BAMA Theater **with Bela Fleck
03/12, Fri Asheville, NC Orange Peel **with Bela Fleck
03/14, Sun Vancouver, BC Vancouver Olympics
03/15, Mon Whistler, BC Vancouver Olympics
03/16, Tue Seattle, WA The Triple Door
03/17, Wed Portland, OR Berbati's Pan
03/18, Thu San Francisco, CA Slims
03/19, Fri Santa Cruz, CA Rio Theater
03/20, Sat Los Angeles, CA Getty Center
03/21, Sun Los Angeles, CA Getty Center
03/24, Wed Troy, NY Sanctuary for Independent Media
03/26, Fri New York, NY Zankel Hall (at Carnegie Hall)
03/27, Sat Somerville, MA Somerville Theater
03/28, Sun Rockland, ME The Strand
03/31, Wed Burlington, VT Flynn Center for the Performing Arts
04/01, Thu Portsmouth, NH Music Hall
04/02, Fri Savannah, GA Savannah Music Festival
04/03, Sat Savannah, GA Savannah Music Festival
04/07, Wed St. Louis, MO Lee Theatre, Blanche M. Touhill Performing Arts Center
04/09, Fri Minneapolis, MN Venue TBD
04/10, Sat Minneapolis, MN The Cedar
04/15, Thu Las Cruces, NM NMSU Music Recital Hall
04/16, Fri Albuquerque, NM Outpost Performance Space
04/17, Sat Austin, TX Venue TBD
04/18, Sun Houston, TX Houston International Festival
04/22, Thu Lafayette, LA Festival International
04/23, Fri Lafayette, LA Festival International
06/09, Wed Charleston, SC Spoleto Festival USA
06/17, Thu New Haven, CT Festival of Arts & Ideas @ Yale Courtyard