Coinciding with the American release of his most recent Putumayo Artists CD, Habib Koité will make a brief appearance at Festival Sundiata on Saturday, February 13 and, that same afternoon, he’ll also do a short performance at the Borders Bookstore in downtown Seattle. The CD, titled MaYa, was at the top of the European World music charts for much of 1998. Now it is generating similar enthusiasm in North America and is a favorite of World Music programmers on non-profit radio stations in the Seattle area such as KCMU, KBCS, and KSER.
    A guitarist and vocalist, Habib is also leader of his band Bamada. The sound is a beautiful mix of traditional and modern elements. It’s an acoustic sound in an "unplugged" fashion with balophone and other West African instruments along with guitar, bass and drums. Unfortunately, on this visit to Seattle, Habib is on his own and will not have his band to back him.
    Born in 1958, Habib Koité comes from a noble lineage of Khassonké Griots. He developed his unique guitar style accompanying his griot mother. He inherited his passion for music from his paternal grandfather who played the n’goni, a traditional four-stringed instrument associated with Wassolou hunters. "Nobody really taught me to sing or to play the guitar," explains Habib. "I watched my parents, and it washed off on me."
    Habib was headed for a career as an engineer, but at the insistence of his uncle, who recognized Habib’s musical talent, he enrolled at the National Institute of Arts (INA) in Bamako, Mali. In 1978, after only six months he was made conductor of Ina Star, the school’s prestigious band. He studied music for four years, graduating at the top of his class in 1982. (In fact, his talent was so impressive that upon graduation, the INA hired him as a guitar teacher). During his studies, Habib had the opportunity to perform and play with a series of recognized Malian artists; including Kélétigui Diabaté and Toumani Diabate. He sang and played on Diabetes 1991 release Shake the World (Sony).
    In 1988, Habib formed his own group, Bamada (a nickname for residents of Bamako that roughly translates to ‘in the mouth of the crocodile’), with young Malian musicians who had been friends since childhood. In 1991, Habib Koité won first prize at the prestigious Voxpole Festival in Perpignan, France which enabled him to record two songs. One of those tracks, ‘Cigarette A Bana’ (The Cigarette is Finished) was a hit throughout West Africa. After the release of a successful single entitled, ‘Nanalé" (The Swallow) Habib received the prestigious, Radio France International (RFI) Decouvertes prize This award made it possible for the group to undertake their first tour outside of Africa during the summer of 1994.
    Habib takes some unique approaches to playing the guitar. He tunes his instrument to the pentatonic scale and plays on open strings as one would on a kamale n’goni, a six-stringed kora-like instrument. At other times, Habib plays music that sounds closer to blues or flamenco, two styles he studied under Khalilou Traoré, a veteran of the legendary Afro-Cuban band Maravillas du Mali. Unlike the Griots, his singing style is restrained and intimate, with varying-cadenced rhythms and melodies. He can distance himself from pure Malinke music by introducing Bùbù, Songhaï and Peul rhythms. The basic style here is danssa, an exuberant rhythm from the Khasso region which Habib Koité helped to popularize by incorporating modern musical expressions.
    In January 1995, Habib met his current manager, Belgian Michele De Bock. They decided to work together and recorded his first album Muso Ko. Upon its release, the album quickly reached #3 in the European World-Music Charts. From that point forward, Habib became a fixture on the European festival circuit and began to spread, his infectious music and high energy shows around the world. He has visited North America only briefly, performing at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, the Montreal Jazz Festival and the Houston International Festival in 1997. His showcase performances in Seattle are free of charge as follows: Borders Books, 1pm, Saturday, February 13, at 1501 Fourth Ave, Seattle Festival Sundiata 6pm, Saturday, February 13, at the Seattle Center, Center House Stage. Friday morning, February 12, Habib will appear on 94.9 KUOW’s Weekday program (between 10-11am) and on KCMU 90.3 (approximately 11am).