From the category archives:

Mali

Fatoumata Diawara – Ivory Coast via Mali with lots of influence

30 November 2011

The latest album to arrive with me is one of those gems that I find myself driven to writing about and sharing with all the readers of this blog. Fatoumata is (at the time of writing) a 30 year rising star of world music. Her singing is a mix of Malian grooves, some more reminiscent [...]

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Ali and Toumani – their finest collaboration

6 May 2010

I’ve just bought an album that has to go down as one of the most spectacular of the year, and it’s been carried off by two of my favourite artists: Ali Farka Toure and Toumani Diabate. But you’re probably asking the question, how can Ali return from the grave to record an album? Well, this [...]

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Arabo-Muslim…the Great River tradition

23 October 2009

Latest review of Afel Bocoum’s album, Tabital Pulaaku, a great album shining strong in the African Blues tradition.

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Introducing the Kora’s top 5 albums

22 September 2009

Following our earlier post on the Kora,  let’s now open ourselves up to its fabulous World. [If you're on the posts page, you can start YouTube video on the right for some Kora background music.]
I’m going to begin with a dedication to the Gambian artist responsible for introducing me to the Kora, his name, Basiru [...]

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Kora – just sit back and be amazed

18 September 2009

Read all about the most amazing of West Africa’s traditional instrument, the fabulous Kora.

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African Blues Evolved – Tinariwen

3 September 2009

Tinariwen’s latest album, Imidiwan, follows on the success of groups 2007 release “Aman Iman: Water is Life”. I’ve been following the groups success right from their beginnings. The story behind the music is one of bloodshed, rebellion and suffering, for an excellent write-up see Andy Morgan’s biography on their website.
For us, it’s the music that [...]

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