Bassekou Kouyate, Ngoni Ba

Over the last decade, Bassekou Kouyate has established himself as one of Africa’s premier global artists. A veteran of hundreds of worldwide concerts, including festival appearances at Glastonbury, WOMAD, and the 2013 Proms. He has garnered a range of awards since his debut album Segu Blue in 2007.

With his band, Ngoni Ba, he has revolutionised the sound and narrative possibilities of the ngoni, the lute-like instrument that is essential to Mali’s Griot culture; the musician storytellers whose lineage stretches back centuries. Born into this tradition, through his invention of a previously unheard repertoire Bassekou has demonstrated his respect for the past by radically pulling it into the future.

This TalkingGigs performance provides a unique opportunity to hear Bassekou playing in a more intimate environment both raw, solo, and accompanied by a single musician.

As well as hearing stripped down versions of some of his best known songs,

Bassekou will be talking with author and journalist Andy Morgan about his music, influences, the ngoni, griot culture, and Mali, as well as taking questions from the audience. Join for this unmissable chance to see and hear a world superstar playing and talking as never before in the UK.