What about the music today, well he's been here before the desert blues king, Ali Farka Toure he died 5 years ago but his music lives on and thanks to our digital age millions can enjoy his skills, compared to the hundreds he shared with at the beginning of his career. It don't matter to the artist as long as he's respected...
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Ali Farka Toure was born in 1939 on the banks of the Niger River in northwestern Malian region of Tombouctou. He was the tenth son of his mother but the only one to survive past infancy. His nickname, “Farka”, chosen by his parents, means “donkey” - an animal admired for its tenacity and stubbornness.
As the first African bluesman to achieve widespread popularity on his home continent, Touré was often known as “the African John Lee Hooker”. Musically, the many superpositions of guitars and rhythms in his music were similar to John Lee Hooker’s hypnotic blues style. He usually sang in one of several African languages. His international breakthrough album, Ali Farka Touré (88), established his reputation in the world music community. His 6th World Circuit album 1994’s Talking Timbuktu, a collaboration with Ry Cooder, sold well in western markets and got him his first Grammy Award. After a hiatus from releases in America and Europe Touré reappeared in 1999 with the release of Niafunké.
In 2004 Touré became mayor of Niafunké and spent his own money grading the roads, putting in sewer canals and fuelling a generator that provided the impoverished town with electricity.In September 2005, he released the album In the Heart of the Moon, a collaboration with Toumani Diabaté, for which he received a second Grammy award. On 7 March 2006 the Ministry of Culture of Mali announced Touré 's death at age 66 in Bamako from bone cancer, against which he had been battling for some time. His last album, Savane, was posthumously released in July 2006. It was received with wide acclaim by professionals and fans alike and has been nominated for a Grammy Award in the category “Best Contemporary World Music Album”
It is unfortunate that the early recordings by this brilliant Malian guitarist/singer/songwriter have been somewhat overshadowed by his better-known collaborations with Western artists. This is not to say that Ali Farka Toure's more recent efforts aren't excellent, but rather that albums like The Source are so exceptional as to outshine even the best of his other work. The Source focuses on Toure's lucid, bluesy, guitar work and beautiful vocals (he sings in French and West African dialects) informed by work chants and Islamic melodies.
Ali Farka Toure - The Source (92 139mb)
01 Goye Kur 6:23
02 Inchana Massina 5:12
03 Roucky 8:16
04 Dofana 7:31
05 Karaw 6:27
06 Hawa Dolo 5:46
07 Cinquante Six 5:31
08 I Go Ka 4:04
09 Yenna 5:53
10 Mahini Me 5:25
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Niafunké reflects the name of the village in Mali where it was recorded. On the liner notes Touré discusses his motivation for creating the album and how the music might relate to its audience. Touré states, "This record is more real, more authentic. It was recorded in the place where the music belongs - deep Mali. We were in the middle of the landscape which inspired the music and that in turn inspired myself and the musicians. My music is about where I come from and our way of life and it is full of important messages for Africans. In the West perhaps this music is just entertainment and I don't expect people to understand. But I hope some might take the time to listen and learn."
Ali Farka Toure - Niafunke (99 109mb)
01 Ali's Here 3:17
02 Allah Uya 4:31
03 Mali Dje 5:41
04 Saulkare 2:51
05 Hilly Yoro 3:39
06 Tulumba 5:22
07 Instrumental 4:13
08 ASCO 5:49
09 Jangali Famata 3:23
10 Howkouna 5:59
11 Cousins 4:19
12 Pieter Botha 3:20
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