All That Jazz

When jazz singer Dobet Gnahore is on stage dressed in the spectacularly coloured outfits of her home Ivory Coast,her hair extensions flying around,and singing about love and loss its impossible to notice anybody else.

When jazz singer Dobet Gnahore is on stage dressed in the spectacularly coloured outfits of her home Ivory Coast,her hair extensions flying around,and singing about love and loss its impossible to notice anybody else.

Gnahore says she can never separate her roots from her lyrics. I am inspired by rhythms from all over Africa. I dream of a united and free Africa, says Gnahore,27,who describes herself as a performance poet who sets her verse to rhythms ranging from heartfelt ballads to funky,danceable songs.

On her first trip to India,Gnahore will perform today for Bonjour India,a Festival of France in India. India is mesmerising because of its versatility and culture. I am also fond of reading about Gandhi,who is my first connection with the country, she says.

Gnahore quit school at 12 and trained for five years in dance,music and theatre and at 17 went to France where she formed a band named Ano Neko with the guitarist Colin Laroche. I moved away from Ivory Coast but my sensibilities are African. With musical instruments like the sanza,the calebasse and the bongos,I still find myself talking about issues like womens rights and poverty, says Gnahore. She released her album Na Afriki (To Africa) in 2007. She is working on her next album which will be out this year.

Gnahore will perform a range of African styles with French and Tunisian members of her troupe as well as her percussionist father Boni Ngahoré.

The concert begins at 8 pm at Kamani Auditorium. Contact 9990003185

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