It was a wet day to say the least on Saturday, but that didn't dampen the mood at Central Park Summer Stage where Vieux Farka Toure, Fallou Dieng, and Kaleta's Zozo Afrobeat Ensemble pooled their efforts for one of the best African music concerts of the summer.
Kaleta's Zozo Afrobeat Ensemble kicked things off nicely with their cast of some of the city's best Afro-performers. They laid down the funk so hard that when the sky opened up ten minutes into their set, the crowd didn't even think of dissipating.
Fallou Dieng, a Senegalese mbalax superstar followed and the sun shined throughout his entire set. While Fallou's voice was as majestic and powerful as ever, his mbalax dancer totally stole the show. His on-stage antics drove the crowd wild. Maybe it was the two Senegalese women in the crowd that gave him extra inspiration.
Vieux Farka Toure closed out the show, and the rain really came down. He was joined onstage by Baye Kouyate whose infectious talking drum energy made the crowd scream, or maybe it was just the chilly rain pouring down on them. Either way Vieux played a great show that reinforced his distinct style and identity, separate from yet tributary to his legendary father Ali.
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