Senegalese star to clash with Tuku on closing night

 Those who have been in hibernation since 2011, will be scanning the current programme and speculating about how this year’s theme, “A Show of Spirit”, will be treated at the opening show on May 1.
The HIFA opening show, which never fails to thrill, will be directed by Neville Campbell, the founding artistic director of Tumbuka Dance Company, while Zimbabwean musician, Vee Mukarati, will give musical direction. The closing show, on May 6, also promises to be a cracker, featuring Zimbabwe’s own Oliver Mtukudzi, who will be turning 60 this year, and Senegalese superstar, Ishmael Lo.
Ishmael Lo will also perform on the HIFA main stage on the evening of May 5.
This Senegalese guitarist, harmonica player and singer, sometimes referred to as the Senegalese Bob Dylan, launched into a solo career in the mid-80s and became an instant hit.
The son of a Senegalese civil servant who loved American soul music, he built his first guitar from an empty cooking oil can. Growing up on a diet of Otis Redding and Wilson Pickett, he learned their songs by listening to the radio. These early influences would later be merged into mbalax-blues, a mixture of Senegalese and Cuban rhythms.
Today, Lo and his 12-piece band play strong, complex mbalax songs that deal with hot topics such as racism, respect and immigration. While the messages that Lo delivers are strong, his voice is loving and his music sweet and harmonious.
Tajabone, possibly his best-known song, speaks of a journey to Tajabone, where an angel will come out of the skies to your soul, and ask you “Did you pray?”
While fans will certainly hope to hear other old favourites, including Dibi Dibi Rek, it’s likely that Lo, who now actively campaigns against the Aids epidemic in Africa, will have new music and different songs to offer.
At HIFA’s closing ceremony, two knights, Lo and Mtukudzi, will shine resplendently on the main stage.
In 2002, the French government made Lo a Knight of the Legion of Honour, while last year Mtukudzi became a Cavaliere of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Italy. A fitting conclusion to what promises to be a superb performance will be a spectacular fireworks display.