Boubacar Traoré carries within him all the beauty of African blues. A diamond among the jewels of Mandingo music, he shines with the dark glow of exceptional purity. Only his voice can blend Niger and Mississippi river alluvia with such moving authenticity. His unique, inimitable, self-taught guitar technique owes a great deal to his kora influences, but its shades and phrasing also suggest the great black bluesmen of the deep South: Blind Willie McTell, Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters and others. His new Lusafrica album, Mbalimaou, is out now, and is distributed in the UK by Harmonia Mundi.

Young London talent Joshua KYEOT opens the evening with heartfelt songs delivered with rich, deep vocals and an irresistible grin. Check him out here.

Facebook: /boubacar.traore.music