Album Cover of Kharifa from Habib Koite

2015 was the year, Habib Koite surpassed Osibisa as my favorite Musical Band or Artiste from Africa and beating Osibisa is no joke and that too when it held that position in my list for decades. Osibisa was Ghana based and operated from the UK, but Habib and his band Bamada are a pure African product from Mali (Habib was born in neighbouring Senegal though). Cannot imagine an artist so fresh and good, album after album, song after song where I can hardly understand a single word. Wow! The power and reach of his great music!

The most unusual thing was this. Almost every song I check out on YouTube is a winner. I end up listening to all of his work (studio albums in chronological order – Muso Ka, Ma Ya, Baro, Afriki and Soo) including his collaborations with other artistes (Brothers in Bamako with Eric Bibb) though it is with his band Bamada his music shines. Habib and his band have been making music from 1995  and I still cannot get tired of him. Check out songs from Habib and Bamada’s albums and I am sure you won’t be disappointed.

The news from Google on my smartphone gave me a high.  Habib Koite has just released his new album. Titled “Karifa” Habib’s 6’th studio album was out on 27’th, September (official site says October, 2019).  I couldn’t wait, I am searching all over the net to listen to his latest offering. I find two songs “Kharifa” the title song and “Wara” on YouTube and they are both instant winners. The opening guitar notes of “Hakilina” tell me it is going to be a super song and no wonder, it is a killer, just magical. The Reggae flavoured “Yaffa” is next and I am on a real musical trip, just wow! So sweet and melodious. Habib’s sons are featured on this song (as lyricists/musicians? will confirm that later). All these songs are on YouTube. “Djiguiya” is available for listening on Habib’s website, www.habibkoite.com  “Ntolognon” is on YouTube as well. I must say a ton of Dopamine was released in my brain just listening to this song, actually cannot get tired of this song. “Forever” (yes, with English Lyrics) is also available on YouTube and is lovely too. “Symbo” sounds like one of his earlier songs and wish it was shorter. “Tanate” is a slow number, just sweeter with the flute and female vocals. The beautiful and ultra-melodious “Fanta Damba” the last song on the album and a lovely instrumental at that, is available as a video clip from Habib‘s channel on YouTube  (link below).  Habib has kept the duration of the songs small, most of them around 3 to 3.5 min. Only three of them are above 4 min.  “Ivasi” is short and sweet too. If you a new to Habib I suggest you start with “Ntolognon“, followed by “Hakilina“, “Yaffa“, and “Fanta Damba” before you check the others. 

Btw, the album is available in full on spotify and jiosaavan.

Can Habib ever make a bad song?  Pray that he doesn’t stop making music. Here’s Music that touches your soul. His latest offering cannot be compared to his earlier material,  you can then imagine how good his older stuff is. 

Would love to get Habib and Bamada to play in India. One of their finest concerts in Wacken on YouTube is missing. If you can get to it you’ll get a feel of Habib and his band live. Clearly, Habib is Mali‘s national treasure.