Malian guitarist Habib Koité is one of Africa’s most popular and recognized musicians.

Habib comes from a noble line of Khassonké griots, traditional troubadors who provide wit, wisdomand musical entertainment at social gatherings and special events. Habib grew up surrounded by seventeen brothers and sisters, and developed his unique guitar style accompanying his griot mother. He inherited his passion for music from his paternal grandfather who played the kamele n’goni, a traditional four-stringed instrument associated with hunters from the Wassolou region of Mali. Nobody really taught me to sing or to play the guitar, explains Habib, I watched my parents, andit washed off on me.