Events / Seckou Keita: 22 Strings at Ramsgate Music Hall

Ramsgate Music Hall
13 Turner Street
Ramsgate
Kent , CT11 8NJ

Tickets: £13
Doors: 7:30 pm
Call: 01227 459243

Book online →

Thursday 17th November

Music for Change presents:

A Theatr Mwldan | Seckou Keita | Sasolo Ltd Co-Production

SECKOU KEITA: 22 STRINGS 
Thursday 17 November 2016
Ramsgate Music Hall
+ Poggy Hatton
+ DJ Doug from Feet To The Floor
Playing a mix of African, Caribbean, Latin and Brazilian groovy tunes between the acts and after Seckou's set.

Following the critical acclaim of his award-winning collaborative project with Welsh harpist Catrin Finch, the extraordinary Senegalese kora player Seckou Keita will be bringing his solo show to Ramsgate Music Hall on Thursday 17 November 2016.

Variously described as a ‘griot (praise singer), composer, djembe master, virtuoso and pioneer’, Seckou is a rare type of musician, seated in tradition whilst constantly pushing the boundaries of his art.

A true master of the kora - a 22 stringed West African harp - Seckou, from the Casamance area of Southern Senegal, was a childhood prodigy, born of a line of griots and kings. Cissokho, his mother’s family name, gave life to his talent; Keita, his father’s, gave him royal blood. Seckou has graced the international stage since 1996, earning worldwide acclaim for his kora playing and appearing with a host of fellow artists including Salif Keita, Youssou N’Dour, Miriam Makeba and Neil Finn.

His last two albums Miro and The Silimbo Passage hit No.1 in the European world music charts, and Clychau Dibon, the fruit of his collaboration with Finch, won fRoots Critics Poll Album of The Year 2013, Songlines Magazine Best Cross Cultural Collaboration 2014, and two BBC Radio 2 Folk Award nominations.

Seckou Keita has arguably become the most influential and inspiring Kora player of his generation, an exceptional and charismatic musician. This, his latest tour, explores what it means to be a modern global citizen, and yet to live with seven centuries of tradition and heritage expressed through music. In his new album 22 Strings, Seckou gives us the kora in its purest guise, a wondrous instrument that can soothe the bloodlust of warriors and take the human spirit to a place of deep meditation, stillness and beauty.

 “ ...exquisite ” 5* Simon Broughton, London Evening Standard

“ An absolutely magical sound ” Mark Radcliffe, BBC Radio 2

 “ A tour de force display of mastery ... a never less than compelling collection... 22 Strings finds Seckou Keita at the top of his game ” Folk Radio UK

Supported by the Arts Council of Wales, Welsh Government and the National Lottery, and the Arts Council of England. This concert by Music for Change is supported by Arts Council England and PRS for Music Foundation.

Artists involved