Orchestra Baobab are one of the greatest live bands in Africa and the Barbican was a sell-out. Before the Senegalese band, there was a jewel of a support set from neighbouring Mali.

Kassé Mady Diabaté is a well-known singer at home but less-known here, although he’s sung with Salif Keita and Toumani Diabaté. His indigo blue robe, burnished in the lights, was creased like it had just been unpacked from his suitcase but he delivered like an amiable schoolteacher with a warm authoritative voice. Fans came up and lavished bank notes while rising star Bassekou Kouyaté added bluesy solos on the ngoni lute. Magnificent.

Just two songs into Baobab’s set the audience got to their feet — and they stayed up for most of the set. Baobab have three main vocalists but it’s Barthelemy Attisso on spacey guitar and Issa Cissokho on unpredictable tenor sax that animate the band. In their individual designer shirts, Attiso looked like a bank manager trying to dress down and Cissokho like an arm wrestler trying to dress up.

Most of the audience knew the songs, there was a real rapport with the band and the atmosphere was as cosy as a Senegalese club.