Renowned for his skill at mixing traditional music with modern beats and inspired by Nelson Mandela, the Senegalese master-musician has used his magical music to spread messages of hope; in the process he has become one of Africa’s most influential and thought-provoking spokesmen. ‘We are going into the third millennium, where we will be inspired by our culture,’ he says. ‘This is the beginning of a renaissance for Africa and its culture. Not just musically, but in terms of theatre, of movies, of dancing, and of other cultural movements.’

The intimate performances of Tales from the Sahel will feature ancient Fula stories from Senegal; a discussion between Baaba Maal and the UK playwright and journalist Kwame Kwei-Armah about how such mythological tales have led to the inspiration that is modern Africa; and performances of songs that have emerged from these two apparently divergent strands. Baaba Maal will play with multi-instrumentalist Jim Palmer and his longstanding percussionist Mamadou Sarr.

Kwame Kwei-Armah is especially appropriate as a conversation partner for Baaba Maal. He was artistic director of the 3rd World Festival of Black Arts and Culture, an inspirational event that took place in Dakar, the Senegalese capital, in December 2010.  The festival, he says, was ‘the culmination of all the discussions we have been having about Africa and the Diaspora: its self-image; its representation in art and academia; and Africa’s future for most of our lives.’ It points, he adds, ‘towards the new African renaissance of today and tomorrow.’

Experience a track from the London show on Baaba Maal’s You Tube channel

Tickets for Tales from the Sahel: An Evening with Baaba Maal at The Ark on Monday, October 17 are priced at $35 and are available now through the Michigan Union Ticket Office, Herb David Guitar Studio, The Ark’s box office, by phone at 734-763-8587 and online at theark.org and mutotix.com.