World Music Institute to Present Bombino At Brooklyn Bowl

World Music Institute will present Bombino, with Kaethe Hostetter's Impressions of Ethiopia & dj.henri at Brooklyn Bowl,Thursday, September 21.

Omara "Bombino" Moctar is one of the brightest stars of the Tuareg "Desert Blues" wave of musicians to emerge from the Sahara. An electrifying and dynamic guitarist, bandleader, and composer, Bombino's music captures the spirit of Tuareg resistance and rebellion, while his full-throated guitar riffs are reminiscent of Subsaharan guitar-slingers Tinariwen and Ali Farka Touré as well as Jimi Hendrix and John Lee Hooker. Omara "Bombino" Moctar was born in Tidene, Niger, during an era of armed struggle for Tuareg independence and violent suppression by government forces. Like many of his generation, Bombino fled with his family to stay in Algeria during this crisis. It was there that he taught himself guitar, plucking out the Ishoumar refugee songs on a guitar left behind by relatives.

In 2004, a Spanish documentary film crew tracked Bombino down in Burkina Faso and helped him record his first full album, Agamgam. The album's success led to his 2011 international breakthrough recording, Agadez - an album that NPR called "a charming trance". 2013's Nomad drew even bigger critical raves, thanks, in part, to the production of The Black Keys' Dan Auerbach. Agadez debuted at #1 on the Billboard World Music album chart and iTunes World chart and earned rave reviews His subsequent albums, Azel (2015) and Deran (2018) cemented Bombino's status as one of Tuareg music's premiere international ambassadors. When WMI first presented Bombino back in 2016, as part of NYC's annual Africa Now! festival, The New York Times raved that "There were screams of joy from the Apollo Theater audience." In 2023, we're proud to welcome this groundbreaking, Tuareg guitar hero back to New York City.

Woradj Alle: Impressions of Ethiopia is a collection of musical vignettes for solo violin and electronics by American violinist and composer Kaethe Hostetter. Sourcing from her 11 years living in Addis Ababa, she transports you to the bustling streets of the East African metropolis, evoking the crackling sounds of a saxophone melody blaring out of a barbershop radio, a shephard's flute melody turned dub reggae, the fervent dancing on packed dirt floors of a rural honey-wine bar, and the funky big band psychedelic sounds of Ethiopia's "Golden Era".

dj.henri has long specialized in "Desert Blues," opening for Tuareg artists and artists from Niger, including Tinariwen, Tal National, and Anewal, as well as for Vieux Farka Toure, Salif Keita, and various griots including Habib Koite. He's performed at the Apollo Theater, B.B. King's, Symphony Space, (le) poisson rouge, Joe's Pub, and many other venues. His station Radio Africa Online is the longest-running African all-music station online, and his podcast, Radio Africa Online Mixes, is featured in Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and elsewhere,

Performance Details: 

The MASTERS OF AFRICAN MUSIC series highlights some of the continent's most acclaimed musicians.

World Music Institute Presents Bombino

With Kaethe Hostetter's Impressions of Ethiopia & dj.henri

Brooklyn Bowl, Thursday, September 21

61 Wythe Av , Brooklyn

Doors - 6PM / Support - 8PM / Bombino - 9:15PM

$25 advance / $30 door - Membership Benefits Apply

Standing Room - Very limited seating.

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