Zita Swoon Group

It was beautiful to see how attentive the audience kept listening for an hour and a half. While the collective worked itself to a climax, the enthusiasm in the audience grew and the applause kept getting fiercer.

Carlens opened the concert with his dobro guitar and introduced a first guest from “the other world” that he had discovered. Mamadou Diabaté Kibié is a master on the balafon (an African version of the xylophone), rooted in the traditional manding music of West Africa. A subtle dynamic immediately occurred between the two, which also completely flourished once singer Awa Démé joined the colorful group. With her hoarse and loud voice she stood preaching on stage and sang about her country, conquered loves and god’s inscrutability. Stef Kamil completed this traditional word play with English lyrics. A reinterpretation like no one else can make: thoughtful, a little wailing. The rhythm varied from dancing and intense to peaceful and calm.”
- De Morgen

“In one sentence: A concert that, despite the often serious content of the songs, burst with vitality and joy of life and confirmed that music bridges all cultural and verbal gaps.

‘Wait For Me’ was a success in every way: an organic project with profound meaning, Stef Kamil Carlens once again shows he doesn’t shy away from an artistic challenge…and it’s the result of a warm dialog between two cultures, a creative alliance based on mutual respect.

It was at once obvious, during the instrumental openers, how naturally the circular play of the Africans blended with the still recognizable Zita sound. The music had a natural flow to it, and proved to be flexible and lively. Even though the songs often dealt with serious social, ecological or moral problems, you couldn’t tell from the positive vibes.

With the swinging ‘Sababu’, singer Awa Démé, dressed in traditional clothes and with a voice like a bell, also appeared on stage. She alternated her vocal contributions, in her own language, with Carlens’ English verses.” - Focus Knack

“Magical Zitafrica. We enter gently into “Wait For Me” which reunites Zita Swoon Group, Awa Demé and Mamadou Diabaté Kibié; we are overwhelmed. At the same time, everything seems to flow from the source, we are immediately at the center of it. Diabaté Kibié’s balafon brings a fascinating but continuously delicate energy to the melodies. Then, Awa Demé, with her raw and beautiful voice, her sunny personality, her swaying gait, quickly captivates the audience which soon regrets being seated. The singing is a constant dialog, between Demé (in Bambara) and Carlens (in English and French). The concert goes crescendo, until it enters a high energy phase, typical of the Antwerpians but magnified here by their African brothers.”
- La libre Belgigue