African classical music: Dialogue of cultures

One of the world’s most accomplished guitarists stood on stage in Nairobi on Tuesday night this week, gently caressing the strings of his instrument at the start of a concert that was a celebration of the music cultures of East and West Africa.

Habib Koite, the globally renowned maestro from Mali, played an introductory piece before welcoming the other members of the star-studded trio, Ivorian-born Malian balafon virtuoso Aly Keita and Ugandan folk musician Joel Sebunjo who together played an instrumental piece with a cheeky interplay of solos between the musicians.