Mali’s musical landscape is a fair bit dimmer with the death of Issa Bagayogo. The singer and musician passed away after a long illness on…
Malian World Music Innovator Issa Bagayogo Dies at 55
Tag: Mali
Trio Da Kali Announces US Tour
Contemporary Mandé griot act Trio Da Kali has announced its upcoming American tour. Trio Da Kali features Hawa Kassé Mady Diabaté on vocals, Lassana Diabaté…
Rokia Traoré to Perform at Symphony Space
Acclaimed Malian singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Rokia Traoré is set to perform on Sunday, October 30, 2016 at Symphony Space in New York City. Rokia…
Artist Profiles: Bassekou Kouyate
Bassekou Kouyate is one of the true masters of the ngoni, an ancient traditional lute found throughout West Africa, and he has collaborated with many…
Artist Profiles: Djelimady Tounkara
Djelimady Tounkara’s name has become synonymous with Mali’s legendary Rail Band. He has seen the band through a quarter century of colorful history and constant…
Vieux Farka Touré to Inaugurate Desert Blues Concert Series in New York City
Malian guitar maestro Vieux Farka Touré is set to perform Saturday, October 1, 2016 at (Le) Poisson Rouge. This concert will mark the beginning of…
Artist Profiles: Ali Farka Toure
Ali Farka Toure was born in 1939 in Gourmararusse (in the Timbuktu region), Mali, into the noble Sorhai family. Being of noble birth, he should…
The Shiny Treasure of Vieux Kante
Vieux Kante – The Young Man’s Harp (Sterns Africa, 2016) I suspect that unseen, undiscovered masters of all shapes, sizes and disciplines brush past us…
Malian Kora Maestro Toumani Diabate
Toumani Diabate was one of the most brilliant players of the kora (a 21-string harp-lute from West Africa). He was born in 1965 in Bamako…
Artist Profiles: Mamadou Sidibe
Mamadou Sidibe was the first person to change the traditional Malian instrument the doso ngoni, to the now popular kamele ngoni. He changed the number…