BBC - Radio 3 - Womad 2004

ROKIA TRAORE (MALI)

With her three albums to date, including last year's award winning 'Bowmboi', young Malian star Rokia Traore has laid down a challenge to us all. She is inviting us to trash old prejudices about how an African artist should or shouldn't sound and to accept that, as a citizen of the world, a creative soul from Mali or anywhere else in Africa should be allowed to make the music they please, without restriction.

Traore is the daughter of Malian diplomat and she spent her childhood moving around the world, experiencing different countries, cultures and music. By the age of 22, when she became a professional singer, she had soaked up an incredible diversity of influences, from Satchmo to Serge Gainsbourg and all points in between. Of course, she was also intimately familiar with the rich musical heritage of her own Bamana culture, but slavishly imitating the great griottes and traditional music ensembles was never her goal. "Yes, I'm using traditional instruments," she explains. "But I'm giving them a new expression and writing modern songs that have an entirely contemporary appeal."

In 1997, Radio France International crowned Rokia 'African Discovery of the Year' and she subsequently released two highly acclaimed CDs in quick succession; 'Mouneissa' and 'Wanita'. Rokia's music seemed to embody an entirely new African musical idiom, in which labels like 'traditional', 'contemporary' or 'fusion' all seemed woefully inadequate. She simply came across like a young, highly talented, passionately creative and uncompromising new musical star, who also happened to be an African, a Malian and a woman.

Courtesy of Andy Morgan, July 2004

Read other people's comments then

Tell us what you think:

Oddmar Joensen
nice music

Mohamed, London
I saw Rokia performing with Youssou Ndour at the Paris Bercy concert, and I must say she's very very talented. The way she sings and expresses herself makes her unique. What a talent. I think she's going to be a big star in future.

eva, miami
her music has a special way to wake me up ..and make me realize that there is always a reason to believe in real music.

henk robben
hero4zero saw her and her band perform about7 weeks ago in Belgium. Please go see her hear her and enjoy. Her albums and DVD !!!! live at La Cigale (Paris) she's so divine/ human / humble. I get chickenskin (dutch expression) only thinking about her/ hearing her voice /seeing her dance. She's a dancer!! LOVE her ART very very MUCH

Muyiwa Ogunyanwo, NIGERIA
Heard Rokia's track, LAIDU, from the album Mounneissa and i was completely bowed out. That singular track has convinced me beyond doubts that she is the biggest act out of Africa now. DID I HEAR ANYBODY SAY NO.

Hudson Frogg, Trefynwy
Rokia Traore - the perfect detox to Nigel Kennedy’s colourful language and M'Bifo is the music to chill to.

jo the world
i saw rokia traore at womad 2004. she was just amazing, her voice was just beyond words !! had a really amazing time !!! i can remeber sat at camp in the night listening to her album wishing to see her again. if i were you, and had not seen her preform i really think you should go, you would have a real fantastic time !!!

Taro, Southern Interior BC
i'm into a myriad of cultural styles and i maintain 'music itself' does not get much better than this! very conscious music..hitting spiritual ceilings (if not breaking through the roof!)

rulani, TORONTO CANADA
I saw Rokia perform late Oct in the Bamboo Cabana here in T.DOT. I am from Zimbabwe currently living in Toronto and it is always a treat to get african artiists. It was even more amazing to see a Malian performer;i have been fascinated with that region, the Bambara, Dogone , former Mande people and how my peoples culture is so similar to theirs . Even though I didnt understand a word, I felt the emotion and understood the essence of her music. An amazing show!

paul, the world
just heard her beautiful beautiful album Bowmboi - stunning lyrics too

Bryan, Israel
this is wow, like, great great great!

Shelby Marshall, Seattle
I have recently had 2 do a project on french pop groups. I don't think Rokia isn't really french. Is she?

jaysee, hampshire
although it was a shame her set was cut short, the plus side was the chance to hear her play accoustically for the first few numbers - best bit of the whole set.

lorraine-Manchester
Saw Rokiah at WOMAD this weekend after listening in awe at her albums for two years - she is even more amazing than I could have imagined!! The band performed two acoustic tracks whilst their equipment was whizzed over from arriving at the 'wrong' airport - pure skill, passion and dedication to the audience! Incredible! And gorgeous!!

Jon, London
A great performer! Her voice (particularly during an impromptu acoustic set) were a delight at Womad and her latest album 'Bowmboi' definitely doesn't disappoint. A star for the future!

sumo somerset
i brought her latest album recently (is easter recently?) and it feels like i just bought it everytime i listen to it! there is always something i miss when i listen to it carefully which makes me listen more and the singing is really well done and i always find it interesting to listen to different sounds that you dont normally hear in the uk. i would like to learn more about the instruments used in her latest album. taraa

Eva, Utrecht, The Netherlands
She is an amzing singer and performer. If you have the chance, go see her, you'll have a great evening!

sarah cornwall
she has created a totally fresh sound, topped off with an amazing voice...bring it on!

Carl.
Wonderful music. Fantastic live performance. And a babe,too!!!