SOUTH AFRICA: Senegalese musician Baaba Maal and guitarist and vocalist Habib Koite of Mali perform at concert to mark 48th anniversary of Africa Day

Record ID: 452421

  • Title: SOUTH AFRICA: Senegalese musician Baaba Maal and guitarist and vocalist Habib Koite of Mali perform at concert to mark 48th anniversary of Africa Day
  • Date: 30th May 2011
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (English) WILLY MATSHILE, AUDIENCE MEMBER SAYING: "Well organized, superb, keep it up...JDA, The Department of Arts and Culture keep it up." (SOUNDBITE) (English) PHINDILE MAKATANE, AUDIENCE MEMBER SAYING: "I think it was fresh, I really enjoyed myself, and it was just a good fusion of different artists from different African continents, yeah I really did enjoy myself."
  • Embargoed: 14th June 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: South Africa, South Africa
  • Country: South Africa
  • Topics: International Relations,Entertainment
  • Reuters ID: LVABD528N8RY20ZFH03ZE8OFLZ6Z
  • Story Text: South African music lovers braved the cold winter of Johannesburg this past weekend to celebrate a concert by some of Africa's most acclaimed musicians, Senegal's Baaba Maal and Mali' Habib Koite, in honour of Africa Day.
    The concert, which took place in Johannesburg's cultural hub of Newtown saw the two musical legends take to the stage, alongside South Africa's Mahotela queens, for the annual Africa Day event, which is aimed at celebrating unity and diversity on the continent.
    Maal, who is world renowned for his masterful blend of West African musical styles with blues, funk and folk, is also known to be a tireless activist, who is involved in many causes in Africa.
    Maal said that although Africa still faces many challenges, the content still has a lot of potential.
    "With all these challenges, I think the future of Africa is bright. I have one of my t-shirts that I did made in London and it's written on it "Africa is the future". Because Africa has all the potentiality that when it's very well promoted, very well secured and very well organised, it's gonna bring a brighter life on the continent, we have to know that," said Maal.
    Guitarist and vocalist Habib Koite from Mali also thrilled the audience with his mix of rock and folk Malian sound.
    Koite says that he hopes that Africa day will not only celebrate the continent's diversity but also its artists and promote them by combating music piracy on the continent.
    "There is a network of piracy, Africa day can create a legal network to distribute and to promote musicians, to create a stage for African musicians," he said.
    The Mahotella queens performed their style of Mbaqanga also known as township music, which got the audience on their feet.
    The year's event was organised by the City of Johannesburg's Arts and Culture and the French Embassy.
    "Well organized, superb, keep it up...JDA, The Department of Arts and Culture keep it up," said Willy Matshile.
    "I think it was fresh, I really enjoyed myself, and it was just a good fusion of different artists from different African continents, yeah I really did enjoy myself," said Phindile Makatane.
    Now on its 48th anniversary, Africa Day marks the creation of the Organisation of African Unity on May 25, 1963, which is now known as the African Union.
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