Ali Farka Touré (1939 - 2006)

Commemorating the “bluesman of Africa”

I must dedicate an entry on this page to Ali Farka Touré, the self-taught blues man from Bamako in Mali, who constructed a bridge between musical styles. He combined traditional Malian music with American one note blues. His songs are about the virtues of hard work, honour and decency.

In 1994 his collaboration with Ry Cooder on Talking Timbuktu, and two years ago with Toumani Diabate, In the Heart of the Moon, were just two of many commercially successful albums he released. His last recorded album, Savane, is his final testament to a music that he created, and that generations will continue to grow.

Ali Farka Toure and Afel Bocoum, Festival in the Desert in 2003