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Your support makes all the difference.Baaba Maal's early plea to the Royal Festival Hall audience to 'not get excited' was in vain; supporting artist Blick Bassy has already made an indelible impression. Singing in Bassa, his native tongue and one of 260 languages still spoken in Cameroon, Bassy charmed all with his miniature telecaster, onesie and pitch-shifted vocals.
Southbank Artistic Director Jude Kelly's introduction made it clear that Bassy was Baaba Maal's personal choice of support act, and Maal's generosity in sharing the stage extended to an eclectic mix of African musicians both young and old.
Unfortunately, while Maal's progressive outlook on music performance certainly warrants his booking at any of the best venues in the country, these upbeat rhythms can't translate effectively to any seated audience; it was a shame that while some did venture down to the stage to dance, the stewards attempted to send them back to their seats.
Ultimately, this audience was excited – to witness a vigorous performance of material from new album the Traveller, and to bask in the personalities of Bassy, Maal and the host of spirited and joyous musicians who joined them on stage. Not even the ten-minute drum solo could prevent them from demanding not one, but two, encores.
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