Afropop Spectacular: Bassekou Kouyate and Krar Collective

In a double bill traversing earthy African blues and hypnotic ancient grooves, the Afropop Spectacular features performances by virtuoso ngoni player Bassekou Kouyate and the Ethiopian trio Krar Collective. Kouyate descends from a long line of Malian griots and combines generations of tradition with innovative rock-inflected techniques on the banjo-like ngoni. In the Krar Collective, soaring female vocals are bolstered by an amplified krar, or six-string harp, playing infectious riffs complemented by the spellbinding rhythms of the kebero drum.