A SUMMER ALL IN VIBRATION
Rokia Traoré is awaited in Bamako in the current of this week for the shooting of the clip of her new album which release is scheduled for June 5, 2003. She will also take advantage of her stay to make the promotion of this opus announced by criticisms as "the hit of the year" and which incontestably reveals the new state of mind of the young star and her group. She is back on the market after having made discover in the whole world (from Los Angeles to Sidney passing by London, Johannesburg, Paris, Berlin Amsterdam, Brussels, Abidjan, Addis Ababa, Douala, Asmara…) the sumptuous sonorities of the acoustic traditional instruments through her two first opus: Mouneïssa and Wanita. A surprising and bewitching voice at the service of an original melody turned towards modernity but which does not lose therefore its heart. If the lady of the Bélédougou is not tall, she overflows of talents and wisdom as the topics developed in this new opus testify. All things considered, the small Rose delivers to us an album full of energy.

THE NEW FEELING “AFRICANDO”
Announced for last January, the next opus of Africando All Stars will finally be released in mid-June. "Martina", the opus in question, was recorded in several stages: voice recording between Abidjan, Dakar and Paris; sound recordings and mixings in the New Jersey, studio Skylight (USA). As on the others works, the skewer of artists enriched. Indeed, in addition to the tenors of the group who are Médoune Diallo, Ronnie Baro, Gnonnas Pedro, Bambino, Eugene Shoubou, Amadou Ballakè and Boncana Maïga, the famous band accommodates as guest stars Ismael Lô, Monique Seka, Joe King, Nyboma, Emeneya Kester and Bailly Spinto. Discover Africando as you have never seen it before.

TRIUMPHAL RETURN OF THE BEMBEYA JAZZ
Taken along by its incredible guitarist, Sékou "Diamond fingers" Diabaté and faithful to its glowing brass, its inspired Mandingo singers, his powerful rhythmic, Bembeya Jazz is back. A return which is triumphal after 15 years of silence. An inimitable swing, an impassioned second reading of the songs which made the whole Africa dance in the Seventies, make of this big band a real institution of the modern Guinean music. Bembeya Jazz soon in the vats.

HABIB KOITE IN LIVE
Haloed of his new Price: Kora Awards (Better Artist of West Africa) Habib Koïté has just ended his winter tour which was composed of 75 dates including 37 in the USA. The star of the donso dansa and his famous Bamada are about to put on the market a double album live. "Fôly", it was recorded between March 2001 and July 2002. Whereas many African artists chose to launch out to the conquest of Europe and North America by mixing their music with Western sonorities and that some work to perpetuate the traditional music in a rigorous way, Habib Koïté selected his way and voice, at the same time impregnated of traditions of his country and well registered in his time. Throughout his career, strong of 3 CD and numerous concerts around the world, Habib knew how to develop a personal way of guitar playing in which one will be able to detect influences of his country but also that of other musical styles like the blues or even, here and there, some keys of Cuban or flamenco "sound". One will also find in his music a sample of the Malian rich traditional instrumentation like the n’tamani, the balaphon or the n’goni. Musical arrangements which emphasize his intimate songs.
But it’s especially on stage that the guitarist virtuoso that Habib Koïté is, appears. Here is the principal reason of this CD recorded between the Netherlands, Italy, Switzerland and Germany.

SEKOU KOUYATE BACK TO THE FOLD
Just like Rokia Traoré, Sékou Kouyaté also is awaited in Bamako for the release of his next album produced by Syllart and distributed by Mali K7 SA. As a foretaste of this opus, we propose two titles to the radios, two titles full of signification "Fassan diarabi" and "Nimatama".
Fassan Diarabi remembers to man and woman their complementarities. Sékou paints with a high accuracy the current society (selfish and individualistic) in which we live. He condemns without hesitation the married men who maintain a 2e office (expression which means in Africa “adultery”)…
In Nimatama, Sékou Kouyaté speaks about the French single experience as regards of mutual solidarity and mutual aid on a bamanan musical bottom. He invites his African brothers to give each other the hand to build a fair and egalitarian society. To make a religion, he curiously invites to take example on the Jews, the Asians and the French living in France.

“DJELY OF FINENESS” IS BACK
The inimitable Amy Koïta, after three years of hibernation, is back to us with a new album of 10 new titles. Born in Djoliba at 40 Kilometers from Bamako, at the eve of the African independences, Amy lost her father at 13 years. She was thus educated by her mother, originating from Kirina which is the legendary place of the battle of Soundjata Keita king of Mande at the 13e century against Soumangourou Kanté, king of Sosso. Amy Koïta, descendent of a family of griots, is proud of her origins and knew how to keep very close links with the Djoliba. Her grand-mother, dead in 1992, remained her constant source of inspiration. Amy Koïta was revealed to the public in 1966, during a competition of song organized in order to recruit the best candidates for the instrumental Ensemble of Mali. It’s the beginning of a fulgurating career. At 17 years, she integrates the famous and glorious instrumental Ensemble of Mali, and took part with it, in 1977, at the festival "of negro arts", in Lagos, by the sides of the great African voices, among which the Guinean Sory Kandia Kouyaté. Back to Bamako, she makes the resolution to leave the instrumental Ensemble to embrace a solo career. The dozen tapes produced allowed her to reach all the musical scenes in Africa, Europe and in the USA. Amy draws her inspiration in the tradition that she enriches with the effects of modernity. In fact this modernization, very limited, doesn’t spoil at all the ample and quiet Mandingo swinging on which the melodious voice of Amy explodes.
Sit down at table and consume the delicious wafers (titles) without moderation. Councils of the chief.

HIS EXCELLENCE BAMBINO
The international Cross has just appointed Sékouba Bambino "itinerant Ambassador" of its organization. This nomination is the crowning of the artist’s efforts in favour of peace. In his last hit "Sinikan", Bambino stand against the proliferation of the light weapons, the use of the children in the conflicts and invites to an awakening because the armed wars, whatever the reason is, only make orphans and mutilated people. And the world, seriously afflicted by evils like poverty, aids…, does not need all that. Congratulation to his Excellence Bambino.

A NEW CULTURAL SPACE AT THE ACI 2000
The "Cultural Space Bouna" will soon open its doors. Built on a surface of 2 000m², the Cultural Space Bouna, located at ACI 2000 (Hamdallaye, old airport of Bamako) will open its doors to the public on Friday May 9, 2003. The promoter of this space of relaxation and leisure, also promoter of the hotel Residence Bouna, had recourse to three tenors of the Mandingo music. It is the Malians Habib Koïté, eager to return to his public after more than 3 months of tour and Toumani Diabaté, virtuoso of kora certainly accompanied by his guests Mangala Camara, Kouyaté, Kassé Mady Diabaté… and the Guinean Sékouba Bambino Diabaté, the most popular singer in Mali. Note in your notebooks, inauguration on Friday May 9 and official dinner reception on Saturday May 10, 2003 starting from 7 p.m. 30. Reservation: 229 04 42/4