In this program, the U-M Percussion Ensemble brings together works that highlight the living traditions of the African continent and diaspora as well as its significant influence on the music of the West. Compositions of the celebrated Malian guitarist Ali Farka Touré and gyil (Ghanaian xylophone) master Kakraba Lobi will be realized on modern Western percussion instruments. The works of contemporary Western composers Derek Bermel, Lukas Ligeti, and Billy Martin, among others, reflect the continuing and profound influence that African musical traditions have on the music of European-American culture. As with UMMA\&##39;s coinciding exhibition, "African Art and the Shape of Time," this presentation will explore African art that is at once firmly rooted in tradition while continuing to evolve through time.