Habib Koité is one of the great stars of world music. With charisma and skill, he brings the rich musical culture of Mali to a wide audience. His guitar style, inspired by the ngoni lute, combines fine playing with rhythmic drumming and characterizes his special sound. His songs tell of everyday life, history and society in Mali – deeply rooted, but open to the world.

His new project is called Mandé Sila – an acoustic quartet that celebrates the diversity of West African musical cultures. Habib Koité is accompanied by three virtuoso artists: the balafon master Aly Keïta (Ivory Coast), the kora player Lamine Cissokho (Senegal), who comes from a famous griot family, and his long-time percussionist Mama Koné (Mali). Together they celebrate the Mandé Sila, the musical path of the Manding empire, which unites the languages, cultures and musical diversity of West Africa.

Mandé Sila is not just a musical project, but a moment of cultural encounter and harmony between the artists. The repertoire consists of original compositions that come to life through the mastery of traditional instruments and the fusion of different styles – from West African rhythms to oriental and jazzy influences.