Baaba Maal in Concert Stuart's Opera House Octover 18, 2011 Nelsonville, Ohio

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Comments from African Studies Students and Faculty

Baaba Maal’s “Tales from the Sahel” tour reached another remote corner, Athens County, Ohio this week and gladdened the hearts of many an old fan in the audience. It is appropriate that he opens the show with a long interview, allowing him to reflect on a career that has spanned two decades, at least, now. And we gain some insight into the connections between him and the other griot-inspired troubadours of Guinea, Senegal and Mali. Connections with faith always come up when we learn more about this group of musicians, and with family inspirations, like that his father was a muezzin of one of his town’s mosques. It was also great to learn that he goes home and to the region frequently for inspiration, to play in communities where everyone is a musician. The concert part of the show was great- a privilege to listen to this type of music in remote Athens, but we always want more and we want to see the global interest in World Music spread to young people in this country. How can we get them more interested?? This stuff is great!!!
Steve Howard - Director, African Studies

If some were not acquainted with Baaba Maal’s acoustic music influenced by Mandinka oral tradition, his concert at the Stuart Opera House was sure one that conquered the hearts of many for the depth of the melodic accounts of his tales from the Sahel.  Baaba Maal dove into African politics and history to better situate his native Sahel region and address recent African political events as youth ambassador for the UN Development Program. The King of Yeela entertained his audience with the voice of a griot accompanied by hybrid tradi-modern beats fusing African traditional music with Afro-Pop and acoustic. The audience had no difficulty relating to the music as Americans and Africans stepped on stage to celebrate the moment. 
Ousmane Diop - Student, African Studies

Baaba Maal permeated the walls and every audience member’s participation in the opera house in Nelsonville with his unbelievably rich voice.  Everywhere you looked in the hall, there was dancing and movement.  In classic African performance etiquette, the great performer was periodically showered with money by audience members who danced their way onto the stage.  He explained he endeavors to speak to African governments through song by asking them to be accountable to the people first and foremost.  Perhaps it is his transcultural upbringing that fosters such thinking.  "When your Fulani your mind is open," Maal said, "Your mind doesn't need to think about borders or things like that, you’re open to other ethnic groups and every kind of music you hear."
Andrea Frohne - Assistant Professor, Interdisciplinary Art

Firstly, I think the idea that the concert was held off campus and in a different environment was awesome.At least it gave some of us the feeling of an escape from the boredom which usually charecterises  school life.Nobody get me wrong, Athens is nice.
The concert itself was a great show. However , the performance was quite short and also the interview section was kind of long.
In all, thanks to all those involved in  the African entertainment aspect of our African Studies program.
Antwi-Boasiako Kingsley - Student, African Studies

Great moments have been enjoyed at the wonderful evening with Baaba Maal, native of Futa Toro. Indeed, the King of Yela has surprised his colorful audience with hot traditional beats from the depths of Sahel. On the stage with Congolese and English percussionists who both “play for change,” Baaba kept both Africans and Americans swaying to the  waves of “lekki” and other songs. Indeed, the universal language of music has spoken again!
Eden njetta Dr. Steve e kala ballunoodo!
Samba Camara - Student, African Studies

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