Afel Bocoum – Alkibar

Description

The Niger is one of the mightiest rivers in Africa, stretching 2500 miles in a great curve that extends east to west from Guinea to Mali, before turning south at the “Great Bend” to flow into the country of Niger. It is on the banks of this “Great Bend” in Mali that a vast network of ancient cities and empires once reigned over West Africa and where today a diverse population of farmers, fishermen, and nomadic cattle herders rely on the river’s resources to survive in the harsh desert climate.

By the banks of the river lies the small desert town of Niafunké, home to both the legendary musician Ali Farka Touré and his protégé, Afel Bocoum, who is rapidly becoming one of the most powerful voices of the region. Together with his band Alkibar, meaning “Messenger of the Great River” in the Sonrhai language, Bocoum uses the river as an inspiration and guide, creating a sound steeped in tradition that captures the voice of the people and their relationship to the land.

Bocoum worked with Ali Farka Touré and his group ASCO for over thirty years, since the age of 13, during which time he made a fundamental contribution to the distinctive sound that helped put the village of Niafunké on the map and its music in homes throughout the world.
Bocoum’s haunting vocals and acoustic guitar acted as a natural compliment to the pulsating electric guitar and guttural voice of his “tonton” (the affectionate word for uncle) and mentor Touré. His collaborations with Touré are most remarkably displayed on the album The Source with songs like “Inshana Macina” and “Dofana,” as well as on the European and North American tours that have brought Bocoum out of his mentor’s shadow and into his own spotlight. This transition was consolidated with the recording of Bocoum’s first album, Alkibar, in an abandoned agricultural centre on the outskirts of Niafunké in 1997.

Product details

• Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ World Circuit
• Original Release Date ‏ : ‎ 2000
• SPARS Code ‏ : ‎ DDD
• Date First Available ‏ : ‎ May 23, 2010
• Label ‏ : ‎ World Circuit
• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B000026T6A
• Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 1

Track list

1 Alasidi 4:30
2 Jaman Moro 4:13
3 Buribalal 7:29
4 Jeeny 6:29
5 Dofana II 7:16
6 Yarabitala 6:09
7 Haira Yo 5:08
8 Salam Aleikum 6:31
9 Cim Kayna 6:42
10 Mali Woymoyo 6:01