Evening of Solidarity with Mali @ UNESCO- Feat: Rokia Traoré, Angelique Kidjo, Inna Modja... Paris Feb 18 2013

Evening of Solidarity with Mali @ UNESCO - Feat: Rokia Traoré, Angelique Kidjo, Inna Modja... Paris Feb 18 2013

Irina Bokova

 No Rock'n Roll tonight as we were invited to attend an eveving party of Solidarity with Mali @ UNESCO in Paris featuring some singers from this African country that's been fighting the islamists withn the help of France.
We've been a few times to the UNESCO in Paris to attend parties when promoting countries I didn't know they even existed (half joking !) AND a great day for the Journée Internationle du Jazz  with masterclasses Feat. Herbie Hancock, George Benson, Marcus Miller, Hugh Masekela and many others last year.

Our seat

Rokia Traoré

Yamina Benguigui

Claudia Cardinale

Angelique Kidjo + Inna

Cheick Tidiane Seck band with Rokia Traoré

Inna Moja

The whole cast (almost)

As always there are lots of speeches between acts but they kept it short so they can get the stage ready for the next artist who all performed from one to two songs. Angelique Kidjo was the MC for the evening and was fun each time she spoke. Irina Bokova the Director of  the UNESCO , of course, was more serious, talking about the mausoleums that's been destroyed and the books burned by islamists. Our own Minister of Francophonie Yamine Benguigui was laughable, not only she needs two people to get on and off the stage as she's wearing high heels that she can barely walk with. She had so much plastic surgery on her face that she's looking like a cross between LaToya and Mickael Jackson, but most important she can barely read her speech, it was like having an 8 year old kid reading in public for the first time ever.
Everybody felt sorry for her.
An iman from Tombouctou talked about the history of Mali and all the saints that are buried in the mausoleums of the city making everybody laugh when he said that there was a new saint in town: François Hollande, I guess he was dead serious.

 

Bafing Kul & The Appolo Band

We had some great music With Rokia Traoré playing some guitar on her known, that is sounding like an early "blues" song from Africa (Robert Plant would appreciate). Some Regggae with Bafing Kul & The Appolo band. African Percussions & music with Maliden , Pedro Kuyaté & Cheick Tidiane Seck.

Last musician was the very sexy Inna Modja, who had the whole cast grooving including the Director General of UNESCO. Too bad Claudia Cardinale and Manu Dibango who were seating not too far from us didn't come on stage.

Great evening !