Few African countries have contributed so many important artists to the World Music market: Salif Keita, Toumani Diabaté, Habib Koité, Kandia Kouyaté, Oumou Sangaré and the late Ali Farka Touré being but a few
Malian singer Khaira Arby, known as the 'Nightingale of Timbuktu' died August 19. Andy Morgan pays tribute to her exceptional life and career.
A sucker for curious instruments, Simon Broughton catches up with Malawian musician Gasper Nali and his homemade babatoni
Malian group Songhoy Blues have released a new video for their track, 'Worry', in the hope of spreading some positive vibes during these tumultuous times
The global groove and harmony evangelists return with their first album since the death of founder Simon Emmerson. Jane Cornwell chats to original members, and now bandleaders, Johnny Kalsi and N’Faly Kouyaté
The Malian singer-songwriter Habib Koité is also one of his country’s leading guitarists. Daniel Brown reflects on the artist’s recordings and career to date
For the Congolese-British comedian, music and entertainment have always gone hand in hand. He tells Emma Rycroft about the sounds of his upbringing and his continued role as a “facilitator of modern-day African music”
Few African countries have contributed so many important artists to the World Music market: Salif Keita, Toumani Diabaté, Habib Koité, Kandia Kouyaté, Oumou Sangaré and the late Ali Farka Touré being but a few
Afro Celt Sound System's winning formula combines high energy African rhythms with Celtic influences and Indian percussion – the ultimate festival party band
Andrew Taylor-Dawson talks to the Ethiopian jazz legend about his country’s golden age and his musical resurrection via the Awesome Tapes From Africa label
A new instalment from the Yiddish Glory project revisits lost Yiddish songs from World War II ghettos and labour camps, though this time the themes are broader. “In ghettos, what they find funny is toilet humour”, hears Simon Broughton
Oumou Sangaré contemplates the current state of her native Mali. She speaks to Andy Morgan about how music and mogoya may be the only things that can save it. Photography by Holly Whittaker
The pre-eminent Malian kora player Toumani Diabaté talks to Simon Broughton about his special one-off collaboration with the London Symphony Orchestra
A vibrant arts and hip-hop scene is happening in the Minas Gerais city. Songlines spoke to those who have been instrumental in its boom
With Toumani and Ballaké’s epochal New Ancient Strings to be reissued for its 25th anniversary, we speak to Lucy Durán, the album’s producer, about the unique recording and her documentary tracing the history of the kora
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