"If you have listened to the music of some great West African voices like Youssou N'dour, Salif Keita or Mory Kante -- and liked them -- then you'll surely adopt Habib Koite and make him a part of your musical life forever."
It might not be surprising that it was Genevieve Bruyndonckx, one of Koite's Belgian managers, who said this. However, by all accounts, Koite has far exceeded the expectations of him since the launch of his first album in 1995.
Koite said that a recent promotional tour of the U.S. and Japan, was an experience of personal growth. "I'm closer spiritually to the people of Japan than I would have ever imagined," he added.