West African Music comes to Worcester Starting Dec. 8

By wazup on January 28, 2024 Comments Closed / 66 views

WORCESTER — Crocodile River Music, a Worcester-based nonprofit, is hosting “MaliFest,” a festival celebrating Malian culture with performances and workshops from December 8 to December 10, at the Jean McDonough Arts Center in downtown Worcester. Mali is located in West Africa. It is landlocked and bordered by Algeria to the north, Niger to the east, Burkina Faso and Côte d’Ivoire to the south, Guinea to the southwest, Senegal and Mauritania to the west.

The festival, free to the public with required advance registration, features three concerts, two workshops, and an exhibition of Malian art. Zach Combs, Executive Director of Crocodile River Music, highlighted the organization’s Malian roots as the inspiration for the festival’s focus. Artistic Director Issa Coulibaly, originally from Mali, expressed his desire to share his homeland’s culture with his new community.

Coulibaly emphasized the unique quality of Malian performances, attributing it to the country’s social dynamics. “This is our first time hosting such a gathering of master Malian artists in Worcester,” Combs stated, adding that the festival might become an annual event celebrating various African cultures.

MaliFest will also offer four dance and four drum workshops, led by instructors with diverse styles, promising an engaging experience for participants of all ages and skill levels. “Our goal is to provide a fun and educational experience,” said Coulibaly.

The festival aims to attract a wide audience, regardless of their background in African culture. Combs stressed the inclusive nature of MaliFest, saying, “Our slogan, ‘African music for all,’ truly reflects our mission to educate and engage everyone.”

Learn more about Malifest from the Crocodile River Music or get tickets for Friday or Sunday at the Jean McDonough Arts Center website. The workshops on

Malifest Schedule

MaliFest 2023 – Performance Lineup

December 8, 7:30 PM: Yacouba Sissoko + SIYA – World-renowned master kora player Yacouba Sissoko and the band SIYA adeptly harmonize the ancient practice of musical storytelling on the solo kora with the modern sounds of today’s musical instrumentation. With musicians from Mali, Gambia, and Nigeria, the musicians of SIYA perform on traditional instruments that capture the beautiful sounds of West Africa. Through their music, the band fosters a global message of embracing love, peace, hospitality, and the importance of forgiving one another, all of which are integral aspects of Malian life.
December 9, 7:30 PM: Mali All-Stars – This headliner music and dance extravaganza features many of Mali’s superstar performers together on stage for the first time in Worcester. Master musicians and dancers who grew up in Mali and now live in America will deliver 90 minutes of high-energy collaboration for all fans of African music and cultures.
December 10, 12:30 PM: Crocodile River Music perform The Dakar-Bamako Express: Named for the railway that connected people and cultures across 800 miles in West Africa, the Dakar-Bamako Express is a high-energy interactive music and dance experience. Performers from Mali, Guinea, Senegal, Burkina Faso, Liberia, and America blend vocals and instruments together to create an immersive and inclusive celebration for audiences of all ages.

MaliFest 2023 – Workshops

Djembe & Dundun workshops are each instructed by a master drummer, and will introduce participants to the rhythms, playing techniques, and traditional phrases in group settings.
Dance workshops will be led by skilled experts in Malian dance. Beginning with a warm-up and a breakdown of movements, students will practice their new skills in a high-energy dance session with live drumming, concluding with a community dance circle.

Saturday, December 9 – workshops are geared toward teen and adult students, though all ages are welcome.

Session 1 – 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM