Acoustic Africa to Bring African Guitar Traditions to UCLA Live’s Royce Hall March 26

Friday March 18, 2011

From World Music Central

Acoustic Africa to Bring African Guitar Traditions to UCLA Live’s Royce Hall March 26

The concert series UCLA Live will present Acoustic Africa at Royce Hall Saturday March 26 at 8 p.m. The concert includes Habib Koité, Oliver Mtukudzi and Afel Bocoum in a musical journey that focuses on the richness of the African guitar tradition.

Performing solo, duo and trio, and backed by an ensemble of traditional stringed and percussion instrumentalists – the concert weaves a collection of traditional songs among contemporary popular ones from each of the leaders.

Headlining Acoustic Africa are the continent’s most indomitable touring artists, songwriters and social commentators; Habib Koité, the Malian superstar whose exciting concerts have endeared him to audiences worldwide, Oliver Mtukudzi, the best-selling artist in his home country of Zimbabwe, and Afel Bocoum, a guitarist, singer, and composer from Mali whose songs evoke the evolution of traditional Malian society.

Acoustic Africa is presented under the artistic guidance of International Music Network and its Belgian partners Contre Jour. The project began in 2006 with a Putumayo compilation album, and went on to come an internationally celebrated companion tour of the same name that brought together singers Vusi Mahlasela, Habib Koité and Dobet Gnahoré.

This year’s second rendition is a celebration of modern Africa, at times subtle and solemn, then ebullient with celebratory rhythms– compelling audiences to move to the stage and share in the dance.

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