Tarika's 1997 Concert History

A vocal, string, and percussion ensemble from Madagascar, and "Madagascar's greatest export". Tarika, "The Band" in Malagasy, is led by two sisters, Hanitra and Noro. The rhythms are catchy, the music lively and ideal for dancing to. Some of the music has a political message: Son Egal refers to the violent Malagasy Uprising of 1947 involving Senegalese soldiers; Allo Cheri ("Hello Darling") speaks of colonial exploitation; while Soul Makassar sees Hanitra travelling to Indonesia to discover the origins of her people.