Malian guitarist Habib Koité is one of Africa’s most popular and
recognized musicians. Habib Koité was born in 1958 in Thiès, in
Senegal.
Habib comes from a noble line of Khassonké griots, traditional
troubadors who provide wit, wisdom and musical entertainment at social
gatherings and special events. Habib grew up surrounded by seventeen
brothers and sisters, and developed his unique guitar style
accompanying his griot mother. He inherited his passion for music from
his paternal grandfather who played the kamele n’goni, a traditional
four-stringed instrument associated with hunters from the
Wassolou region of Mali. "Nobody really taught me to sing or to
play the guitar," explains Habib, "I watched my parents, and
it washed off on me."
Habib 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 Diabaté. He sang and played on Toumani
Diabaté's 1991 release Shake the World (Sony), and Kélétigui Diabaté
is now a fulltime member of Habib’s band.
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. At other times Habib plays music that sounds
closer to the blues or flamenco. Habib is since 2010 the ambassador of
Mali at the UNICEF.
We met Habib in Bamako in september 2011 during the recording of "United" a song created trough a partnership between PFC and the United Nations, for the "7 billions" campaign. Mark has been a huge fan of Habib during years and it has been a great honor to meet Habib and record him at his house in Bamako. The day after Habib joined us to visit the Music school of Kirina, created by the Playing for Change Foundation.
