Every year in mid-March, the International Nomads Festival brings people from around the world to the desert town of M’hamid el Ghizlane. They gather to celebrate nomadic life of the Sahara desert. For three days and nights, the town is abuzz with activities ranging from 4×4 Sahara tours to the Great Dunes of Erg Chigaga to late night, desert-rock concerts. In 2017, […]
“Chill and Jam” at The Nomads Festival
Posted August 23rd, 2017 at 12:01 pm (UTC-5)
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Sounds from Southern Morocco: Festival Taragalte
Posted February 27th, 2015 at 2:54 pm (UTC-5)
In late January, I traveled to the edge of the Sahara Desert in Morocco to participate in an African music festival called Festival Taragalte. It took place in the dunes just outside the dusty oasis town of M’Hamid El Ghizlane or “Town of the Gazelles.” It was the Door of the Sahara or “Porte du Sahara” […]
Mali’s Trail Blazers of Traditional Music
Posted March 19th, 2014 at 5:37 pm (UTC-5)
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Today’s post takes an exciting departure from my typical in-studio interview sessions at Voice of America headquarters. This time, I brought Voice of America with me to the University of Maryland to record an African music event entitled “Music, Mali, and Citizen Diplomacy“. I also sat on the panel of this unique performance and discussion […]
Mali’s Mamadou Kelly Sticks to Classic Sahelian Sound
Posted February 14th, 2014 at 8:40 pm (UTC-5)
Mamadou Kelly was a name I hadn’t heard of before, but his new CD was compelling. The music in Adibar, released in 2013 by Clermont Music, made me stop everything I was doing at the time and just listen. There are no bells and whistles to this music; no novelty, no modern twist. Kelly’s sound […]
Tartit’s Tuareg Women: Strong and Independent
Posted October 31st, 2013 at 2:28 pm (UTC-5)
As part of the 2013 Caravan for Peace Tour, Tartit was the second Malian group to come through Washington D.C. on July 29th. This post features my interview with them in French — with English subtitles. It was a thrill to see Disco again (Fadimata Walet Omar) after ten years. If you haven’t learned about […]
Bassekou Kouyaté & N’goni Ba Wows Washington with Wah-wah…Among Other Great Things
Posted October 15th, 2013 at 4:47 pm (UTC-5)
A tidal wave of Malian music surged upon the eastern coastal cities of the United States last month and, lucky for us, it hit Washington D.C. with beautiful, overwhelming force. Amadou and Miriam performed a killer, June 18th concert at the 9:30 Club followed by the female-led Tuareg group called Tartit on July 29th. Then […]
Habib Koite and Eric Bibb Show Brotherly Love
Posted April 9th, 2013 at 6:59 pm (UTC-5)
A new album is out called “Brothers in Bamako”. The brothers are Malian music veteran Habib Koite and African-American folk musician Eric Bibb. The album cover speaks volumes about the music and their relationship: sharing a bench outside of Habib’s home in Bamako, Habib picks a banjo guitar and Eric strums a big acoustic guitar. […]
At Peace – Ballake Sissoko and Vincent Segal
Posted March 19th, 2013 at 3:11 pm (UTC-5)
On March 1st, 2013, Ballake Sissoko and Vincent Segal came to Washington D.C. on tour to promote their new album, At Peace. Ballake is a celebrated kora player from Mali. Segal is an accomplished cellist from France. Kora and cello and are both string instruments — 21 and 4 respectively. The kora’s strings are plucked […]
Malian Music Cancelled for 2013 Festival sur le Niger
Posted January 23rd, 2013 at 3:59 pm (UTC-5)
As an update to my previous post on the projected fate of Mali’s 2013 music festivals, this quick news post is to let you all know that the Festival sur le Niger has officially cancelled all music programs. See here for the press release in English.
Mali’s Music Festivals on the Brink
Posted January 16th, 2013 at 8:51 pm (UTC-5)
I know a graphic artist/music promoter who works for one of Mali’s premier international music festivals, the Festival sur le Niger (or Niger River Festival). We were Facebook messaging the other day about the upcoming festival (February, 2013 .) Marisa Segala and I first met last year at the festival’s 8th edition located in the […]
