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Harare International Festival of the Arts at the weekend learnt how to differentiate between music and noise.
Presented by the European Union, Institute Francaise in association with Coca-Cola on Golden Pilsener Day,
Ismael left music lovers spellbound with his great artistry that delighted a multi-cultural audience at the Telecel Main Stage.
It was a proper concert with Ismael taking charge of the show using the power of his music.
When he asked the crowd to clap their hands they did so and when he asked them to sing along the response was overwhelming.
According to Ismael, women sang better than men and he too was equally impressed by the energy and soulful voices that exhibited at the concert.
Despite his French accent, the audiences understood his soft guitar melodies and traditional Senegalese mbalax.
One of his dancers — only identified as Jean — rocked the stage with her sexy dance routines.
Unlike other international acts that chose to perform new songs, Ismael played a mixed bag and his show climaxed when he played the popular hits “Tajabone”, “Dibi Dibi Rek” and a song for peace “Africa”.
The singer — who is lovingly called the “Bob Dylan of Africa” — was not new to Hifa audiences, as he has performed in Harare on a number of times.
But his recent visit drew huge crowds.
His scintillating hamonica instrument which he plays on “Tajabone”, made a difference.
Online Reporter