Gaoussou ‘Sobra’ Kouyate – Sobra Dance (One World Records, 2026) Malian guitarist Gaoussou “Sobra” Kouyate takes the lead on Sobra Blues, an eight-track album produced…
Gaoussou ‘Sobra’ Kouyate Steps Forward as Bandleader on ‘Sobra Blues’
Tag: Malian music
Fatoumata Diawara Reaches No. 1 on July 2026 Transglobal World Music Chart
Fatoumata Diawara’s Massa tops the Transglobal World Music Chart for July 2026. The Malian singer, songwriter, and guitarist’s new album reflects on motherhood, faith, memory,…
Mah Damba Leads July 2026 World Music Charts Europe With Taabolo Koura
Mah Damba’s Taabolo Koura has reached No. 1 on the World Music Charts Europe for July 2026. The Malian singer, born in 1965 into a…
Taabolo Koura: A Malian Family Legacy in Full Bloom
Mah Damba – Taabolo Koura (One World Records, 2026) On Taabolo Koura, Mah Damba reaffirms her place among Mali’s most treasured voices. This is a…
Fatoumata Diawara’s Massa Integrates Reflection, Identity, and Hooky Sounds
Fatoumata Diawara – Massa (NØ FØRMAT!, 2026) On Massa, Fatoumata Diawara trades the earthy pulse of Malian tradition for a polished pop framework that rarely…
Ali Farka Touré’s ‘Savane’ Celebrates 20 Years With Limited-Edition Yellow Vinyl Release
Savane, the acclaimed final studio album by Ali Farka Touré, will return in a limited-edition yellow double-vinyl format to celebrate its 20th anniversary. Recorded in…
The Jembe: West Africa’s Famed Goblet Drum
(headline image: Badenya les Freres Coulibaly – Photo by Atelier images) The jembe is a rope-tuned, skin-headed goblet drum associated above all with Mandé cultural…
Mama Koné, a Percussionist with a Bamako Groove
Born in Mopti, Mali, in 1983, Mama Koné comes from a griot family rooted in traditional music. He grew up around the balafon, jembe, ngoni,…
Fatoumata Diawara Celebrates Freedom on New Single, “Fala”
Malian singer-guitarist Fatoumata Diawara has released a single named “Fala.” The song’s title means “orphan” in Bambara (language of Mali). It is a haunting ballad…
Mama Sissoko Returns With Diamond Fingers After A Decade
Mama Sissoko – Diamond Fingers (One World Records, 2026) Malian guitarist Mama Sissoko will be releasing his long-delayed album Diamond Fingers on March 6, 2026.…