The final concert at the Bab Makina was a sensational performance by Salif Keita. Having listen to his music for years, it was an absolute pleasure to see him perform. The capacity audience were so appreciative that, within minutes of him taking to to stage, they were on their feet dancing and clapping.
Keita's music blends together the traditional griot music of his Malian childhood with other West African influences from Guinea, the Ivory Coast, and Senegal, along with influences from Cuba, Spain, and Portugal, and an unmistakably overall Islamic sound. Besides the guitar, Keita's sound also includes traditional African instruments such as the kora, balafon, and djembe, often synthesized and sampled.
The two young backing singers danced and sang their way through the entire concert, pausing only to take quick drinks of water to sustain themselves. Their energy and connection with the audience was a high point.
Halfway through the concert the band left the stage to Keita and the two singers. What followed was a series of soft sweet songs, in direct contrast to the high energy opening set.
When the band returned the volume was again pumped up and the energy built to a climax that left the audience dancing and calling for more.
It was a remarkable concert by the humble Salif Keita who once again earned the honorific - the Golden Voice of Africa.
Photographs copyright Suzanna Clarke 2006
MYSTICAL SONGS OF THE WOMEN OF THE MAGHREB.
Earlier in the day, the concert at the Batha Museum showcased the talents of three fine women singers. Algerian Nacera Charbane, Tunisian Leila Hejaiej and Moroccan Karima Skalli.
The concert was a sellout and the audience treated to some fine music ranging from classival Arabic and Arabo-Andalusian through to a slightly more pop genre at the end of the concert.
The highlight of the concert was the engaging performance of the Moroccan star, Karima Skalli - the locals loved her, and we did too.
Tags: Morocco Fes, Maghreb news
1 comment:
You inverted the name of the singers in the first 2 pictures.
The first picture is for Leila Hjeij(Tunisia) and second for Nassima(Algeria)
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