Maal Culture

He’s been nominated for Grammys and logged hits on Billboard’s dance charts. He’s headlined at the Hollywood Bowl and closed the South Africa Freedom Day Concert honoring Nelson Mandela in London’s Trafalgar Square. So how come you’ve never heard of Baaba Maal? Probably because you live in America, where “Morning...

By Robrt L. Pela

April 22, 2010

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He’s been nominated for Grammys and logged hits on Billboard’s dance charts. He’s headlined at the Hollywood Bowl and closed the South Africa Freedom Day Concert honoring Nelson Mandela in London’s Trafalgar Square. So how come you’ve never heard of Baaba Maal?

Probably because you live in America, where “Morning Zoo” programmers aren’t likely to give airtime to Maal’s West African rock-and-blues fusion. You live in a country where he’s not going to turn up as a mentor on American Idol or in a duet with Lady Gaga.

But even though you haven’t heard of him, Baaba Maal is coming to town. Backed by his acoustic band, Maal will perform songs from his multi-lingual album, Television.

Thu., April 22, 7:30 p.m., 2010

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