Two acclaimed artistes, two different musical backgrounds, two nights of world music – this is what the concerts at MITP (St Christopher Street, Valletta) on Friday and Saturday are all about.

Maltese percussionist Renzo Spiteri, and kora and balafon player N’Faly Kouyate from the Republic of Guinea join forces and blend their musical styles to present these concerts in Malta.

A master kora player and traditional West African singer, Kouyate has been endorsed by Peter Gabriel and his recording label RealWorld to record and tour extensively with the famous Afro Celt Sound System, apart from pursuing his own solo career. Performances at the International Festival of Jazz in Montreal, Montreux Jazz, the WOMAD Reading Festival (UK) and WOMAD in Australia have exposed Kouyate’s music to international platforms.

Relentless percussionist Renzo Spiteri has taken his music and collaborative projects to festivals across Europe, performing as soloist and also sharing the stage with numerous international artists. He has participated in various cross-cultural musical exchanges, including his collaboration with Mercan Dede/Arkin Allen during the Malta World Music Festival 2004, and with Senegalese Mousse Ndaiye during the sell-out concerts “RITMI”.

“Chants” promises to be yet another exciting project of fusion of cultures and music. This will be the first time ever that a kora player will perform in Malta, and that a Maltese performer teams up with this master musician. The elegant yet vibrant harp-like sounds of the kora as played by N'faly Kouyate, and the eclecticism and virtuosity of Renzo Spiteri promise nothing less than a highly charged premier performance.

Concerts start at 8pm. Tickets, at Lm3 each, are available from St James Cavalier, Valletta (Tel: 2122 3216; [email protected]).