On May 25 – International Africa Day – contemporary griot N'Faly Kouyaté presents his new album Finishing. N'Faly Kouyaté - Mon 25 May 26 - AB will be a full show featuring prestigious guests including African reggae star Tiken Jah Fakoly and Senegalese rapper/activist Didier Awadi.

To get in the mood you can attend the Workshop Polyfonic singing with N'Faly Kouyaté - Sat 23 May 26 - AB two days earlier. But if you wish to delve even deeper into African culture you can attend a conference a couple of hours before the concert, to talk about :

Africa 3.0: Can music redefine the relationship between Africa and Europe?*

African rhythms set the tone, from clubs in Lagos to major European stages. They transcend borders, challenge traditions, and reshape the relationship between Africa and Europe. This debate explores the power of music as a space for dialogue, influence, and restoration, between shared creativity and new points of tension:

1. Music as African soft power

2. Music and social engagement

3. Youth, diasporas, and hybrid identities

4. Singing in local languages ​​on a global market: an asset or a hindrance?

5. What is the future of African music on the world stage?

Participants

Moderator is Bob Barry, a journalist on the editorial staff of Deutsche Welle (DW), specializing in African culture, politics, and sports. The panel members are musicians Marie Daulne, N'Faly Kouyaté, and Didier Awadi, alongside music promoter and manager Lino Grumiro.

Marie Daulne is the founder and driving force behind Zap Mama, with whom she conquered the world stages. She has collaborated with Erykah Badu, Talib Kweli, Questlove, and Common, and continues to perform actively—most recently at a sold-out AB in 2024—and make music. She contributed to the documentary Soundtrack to a Coup d'Etat. nominated for an Oscar. She is also a voice therapist and activist for Congolese women who have been victims of violence.

Lino Grumiro is a key figure in Belgian hip hop and founder of the Brussels booking agency Skinfama, where he often works with African artists of all generations as a manager and concert promoter.

N'Faly Kouyaté: Guinean-Belgian musician, kora, balafon, and vocal virtuoso with 30 years of international experience.

Didier Awadi: pan-African activist, producer, musician and founder of Positive Black Soul, the first internationally acclaimed Senegalese hip hop band, .

*The panel discussion will be conducted in French. Admission is free, but registration is required.