Oumou Sangare, Les Nubians, Asa

An outstanding day of music featuring three pioneering African and "Afropean" chanteuses.

Born to singer Aminata Diakité, Oumou Sangare is a Malian musician known as "The Songbird of Wassoulou.” She writes and composes her songs to bring about social awareness, especially concerning the place of women within society. Since 1990, she has performed at some of the most prestigious venues in the world: the Melbourne Opera, Roskilde festival, Festival d'Essaouira and Opéra de la Monnaie of Brussels. Her 1989 album Moussoulou was an unprecedented West African hit and she has toured with artists such as Baaba Maal, Femi Kuti, and Boukman Eksperyans. Seya (Joy) is Sangare’s first album in six years and for her appearance at Central Park SummerStage she will be performing new songs joined by some very special guests.

Les Nubians is a Grammy-nominated “Afropean” R&B duo comprised of sisters Hélène and Célia Faussart. The group has captivated audiences for a decade with their inventive and distinctive sound that embodies the timeless vibrations of Miriam Makeba, Ella Fitzgerald, Doudou N'diaye Rose, Fela Kuti, Edith Piaf, The Fugees, and Soul II Soul. Les Nubians is known for their jazzy nuances, hard hitting drum 'n' bass lines, harmonious melodies, and conscientious proclamations.

Born to Nigerian parents in Paris, France, Asa moved to Nigeria when she was just two years old. Immersed in the cultural and religious quagmire of her homeland, Asa became inspired by Afrobeat musicians like Erykah Badu, D’Angelo, Raphael Saadiq, Lauryn Hill, Femi Kuti, and Angélique Kidjo at an early age. With a blossoming music career, Asa has created a unique sound that falls somewhere between pop, soul, and R&B, anchored by lyrics and melodies inspired by her African musical heritage.