Harp-lute music mesmerises audience

N'faly Kouyaté from the Republic of Guinea captivated the audience with the kora, a West African harp-lute. Photo: Paul Zammit Cutajar

The haunting sounds of the kora - a West African harp-lute - echoed across the fields surrounding Verdala Palace, Buskett, on Saturday night mesmerising over 800 people who turned up for the open-air charity concert.

Percussionist Renzo Spiteri teamed up with N'faly Kouyaté from the Republic of Guinea to present an intense concert of world music, made all the more unique by the kora.

The two provided a seamless synergy and received resounding applause. The concert, in aid of the Community Chest Fund, was held under the patronage of the President and Mrs Fenech Adami. Mr Spiteri and Mr Kouyaté will be reuniting later this month to perform at the Womad Festival in South Korea, one of the biggest, most established festivals of world music.

Womad (World of Music, Arts and Dance) started in Shepton Mallet, England in 1982. It was pioneered by Peter Gabriel to bring together and celebrate various forms of music, arts and dance drawn from countries and cultures from all over the world. Some of the biggest names in the scene of world music have been especially handpicked for the occasion and Mr Spiteri is thrilled to be among them. "Taking part in Womad is the dream of every world music musician," Mr Spiteri said.