Music from Mali – Boubacar Traore

Boubacar Traoré (born 1942 in Kayes, Mali) is a renowned singer, songwriter, and guitarist. Traoré also goes by the nickname Kar Kar, “the one who dribbles too much” in Bambara, a reference to his soccer playing: “a nickname I got from playing soccer when I was young. People would yell ‘Kari, Kari’ – dribble, dribble – the name stuck with me”.

Considered as a bluesman in the western countries, Boubacar Traore, is above all someone passionate whose music distils emotions and dreams with simplicity and precision. His powerful and warm voice sings his country’s history, the hope and despair of the Malian people, their love and expectations, the world surrounding them – striking melodies, all inspired from the Kassonke Malian tradition in which he has always bathed in.

His inimitable style warmhearted as well as wistful can be heard on his latest album, “Kongo Magni” released in 2005 by the label Marabi. Boubacar’s fame takes roots in the 1950s. He entertains the Malian post-independence days, when Bamako dances to “Mali Twist” or “Kabeya”. Here is the song “Mariama”

Music from Mali – Rokia Traoré

Rokia Traoré award-winning Malian singer, songwriter and guitarist.  Born in Mali as a member of the Bambara ethnic group, her father was a diplomat and she travelled widely in her youth.  She has released five albums the latest being Beautiful Africa released this year.  This is her song “Sabali“, the video is accompanied by a wonderful slideshow featuring Africa and its poeple.

Music from Zimbabwe, Mali & Nigeria – C’est pas bon

BRANDNEW SONG! A song I don’t know more about, but it’s multi-cultural. Seems to be from Fore from Mali. But it’s awesome good african music. The ‘Ce n’est pas bon’ in the background is by Amadou & Mariam. About political and society problems. “C’est pas Bon”, in english: that’s not good:

Music from Mali/Senegal – Habib Koité

Habib Koité (born 1958 in Thiès, Senegal) is a solo singer, songwriter and guitarist, based in Mali. His band, Bamada, is a super-group of West African musicians, including Kélétigui Diabaté playing balafon. Here is the song “Takamba”

listen also Batoumambe and Desert Blues

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Music from Mali – Habib Koité

Although there is a war in Mali, their music won’t come too short! Habib Koité is a Malian singer, songwriter and guitarist. He plays the guitar on a pentatonic scale and uses open strings as on a n’goni. Listen to his damn awesome song “Mali Ba”:

Peace for Mali.

Music from Mali – Tinariwen

Tinariwen is a band of Tuareg-Berber musicians from the Sahara Desert region of northern Mali founded 1979. Here is their song “Awa  Didjen”

and a live performance at the worldmusic festival Womad

Music from Mali – Habib Koité

Habib Koité is a Malian singer, songwriter and guitarist. He plays the guitar on a pentatonic scale and uses open strings as on a n’goni.

His song Batoumambé is a very emotional song, about a women from the Bozo fishing tribe. The Youtube Comment, “Two people from different worlds discover an impossible love, The young Bozo fisherman and the siren of the river. They could neither be seen together, nor marry. From their idyll, a proverb has grown: ‘Not all love ends in marriage’. But love remains strong. The fisherman said: ‘When I touch your breasts, it is not desire. It is out of love for the owner of the breasts. ….(etc.), My dear Battoumanbe, not all love ends in marriage’ .” from AdissJimer is very informing.

Updated for Truels ;)

Music from Mali – Salif Keïta

Salif Keïta (born August 25, 1949) is an afro-pop singer-songwriter from Mali. He is unique not only because of his reputation as the “Golden Voice of Africa” but because he has albinism and is a direct descendant of the founder of the Mali Empire, Sundiata Keita. This royal heritage meant that under the Malian caste system, he should never have become a singer, which was deemed to be a griot’s role. Here is the song “Folon “

Find Also Tomorrow and Nou Pas Bouger

Music from Mali – Rokia Traore

Rokia Traore , a female musician singer from Mali . 1997 she released her first album , she sings in Balambra , an african dialect/language and was inspired by Ali Farka Toure

Music from Mali – Kandia Kouyaté

Kandia Kouyaté (also known as Kandja Kouyaté, born in 1959 in Kita, Mali) is a Malian jelimuso (a female griot) and kora player. Here is the song “Woulalé”