Dobet Gnahoré

“Onstage, Dobet is a vivacious bundle of energy, blessed with a powerful voice and infectious charisma.” —BBC

Dobet Gnahoré, a remarkable young singer /dancer /percussionist /composer from Côte d’Ivoire, was the show-stopping favorite in the Walker’s 2006 Acoustic Africa mixed-bill evening. She now returns with a group of instrumentalists for her first full evening, offering new sounds, ancient traditions, and remarkable music. From Mandingue melodies to Congolese rumba, Ivory Coast ziglibiti to Cameroon bikoutsi, Gnahoré’s pan-African palette blends colorful compositions, jazz-inflected vocals, and unparalleled charisma. Singing of love, life, and loss in present-day Africa, she is widely hailed as one of the freshest talents in new African music.