Ali Farka Touré – Niafunké (World Circuit Music, 1999)
Niafunké is a now classic world music album released in 1999 by the great Malian musician and composer Ali Farka Touré. The title of the album refers to the village in Mali where it was recorded, together with is friends.
Ali Farka Touré went back to his roots to record a traditional Malian blues album inspired by the scenery in that region of deep Mali, by the Niger River. To Ali Farka Touré, the music was about his hometown and its way of life. In addition to making music, Ali Farka Touré was a farmer.
The lineup included Ali Farka Touré on acoustic and electric guitar, vocals, percussion and njarka (fiddle); Affel Bocoum on acoustic guitar and vocals; Souleye Kane on jembe; Yoro Cisse on njurkle (lute); Hamma Sankare on calabash; Guidado Diallo on njarka; and Djeneba Doukoure, Fatoumata Traore, Hamidou Sare and Hamma Sankare on backing vocals.
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Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.