Habib Koité

With his band Bamada, Malian singer-songwriter/guitarist Habib Koite brings together the classic instrumentation of Western African folk music (balafons, kora, calabasa) with an eclectic mix of stylistic influences. Like many Malian artists, his music is informed by the blues, and griot singing, but also bears traces of tangy Latin jazz and melodic Western pop. He's been writing and performing with Bamada since the late 1980s, and been an influential star in Europe throughout the '90s, but the artist first garnered attention in the U.S. near the turn of the millennium when his popular album BARO was distributed through the Putumayo world music label. Shortly after, Koite appeared on Bonnie Raitt's SILVER LINING album, increasing his international exposure.