Baaba Maal with special guests NOMO April 10, 2010

One of the true stars to rise from the African continent, Senegalese master musician Baaba Maal has been making music for the world to enjoy for nearly two decades. With releases ranging from contemporary Afropop to expressions of traditional West African music, he has received resounding critical acclaim worldwide. Renowned for his fiery performances by fusing funk, rock, and blues with the beats and melodies of West Africa, Maal has continually reinforced his role as a seminal artist in the world music arena. With nearly constant touring, he has honed and enriched an already phenomenal stage show into an explosion of sound, singing, and dancing. Aside from being a remarkable musician, he is socially conscious and represents the United Nations Development Program as a spokesman on the issue of HIV/AIDS in Africa, committed to the concerns of families, young people, and the future of the continent. “Baaba Maal opened his mouth, and beautiful pearls and lilies and songbirds came flying out. It was one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen.” (Michael Stipe, R.E.M.) The opening act for Baaba Maal is NOMO, an Afro-Pop, Fela Kuti-inspired nonet originally formed by U-M School of Music graduates in Ann Arbor.

Presented by the University Musical Society, www.ums.org.

Official Website: http://ums.org/s_current_season/artist.asp?pageid=566