| Tech Note | THIS SHOW WILL KNOCK YOU ON YOUR ASS!! features legendary african band Bamada. Habib Koite spent some time wandering around Africa trying on different musical sounds, but in the end he fell in love with the traditions of Mali and its own variety of music. He returned, embraced his homeland and started singing its virtues to the rest of the Malians so they would appreciate its beauty. Mali, North Africa, has rich and diverse musical traditions, which have many regional variations and styles that are particular to the local cultures. Habib Koite is unique because he brings together different styles, creating a new pan-Malian approach that reflects his open-minded interest in all types of music. The predominant style played by Habib is based on the danssa, a popular rhythm from his native city of Keyes. He calls his version danssa doso, a Bambara term he coined that combines the name of the popular rhythm with the word for hunter's music (doso), one of Mali's most powerful and ancient musical traditions. "I put these two words together to symbolize the music of all ethnic groups in Mali. I'm curious about all the music in the world, but I make music from Mali. In my country, we have so many beautiful rhythms and melodies. Many villages and communities have their own kind of music. Usually, Malian musicians play only their own ethnic music, but me, I go everywhere. My job is to take all these traditions and to make something with them, to use them in my music." |
