People, if outside of Mali, and I suspect all of West African "francophone"Africa, you don't know this group, welcome yourself to its beautiful music. Buy it for yourself, for your children; for your friends. It's incomparably beautiful, meaningful and funky, played with an easy virtuosity that is at times breathtaking. It's music you don't want to stop. Listen to "Ayé Sira Bla- "Make Way"- and love the one you are with; ride and roll on a wave of passion. Bassekou used to be the kora maestro Toumani Diabaté's ngoni player, and he used to float as he played his solos or when accompanying the great man. Amy Sacco, Bassekou's wife (they are a family group, with at least two sons playing in the group) sings like the jali diva (voice for the gods) she is. Listening to her, or to Zoumana Teretaou sing "Fama Magni- The Pain of Separation" (you'll want to both dance and look at your navel), and you have little doubt about the origins of the blues and gospel, even if our brothers and sisters in the US made that world their own.
For those who don't know the ngoni, it's like a small lute (I dislike the analogies with European instruments, but that's the generic translation of guitar-like instruments), and is played at different pitches- in addition to the principal ngoni ba, there's a medium and bass, which acts like a bass (wonder where the slapping bass comes from?), and slaves took it across the Atlantic to become the banjo.
They have four albums out (I Speak Fula; Segu Blue; Jama Ko-- and listen, watch and mile along with "Jama Ko" from the same album: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2vQAmySTfw ; and their most recent, Ba power!). All are equally compellingly excellent; but each has have their own standout pieces. They are an innovative, special, and utterly unique family group, playing with a lithe tightness that belies their modernistic power, preaching tolerance, understanding and love Like the old dude I am becoming, they put all to shame those of you singers across the continent aping those one pitch performers over here who use singing through the vocoder or auto pitch /tune from one progression back to the same one.
And to quote one of the Alukos, and there you have it! Go listen, ah beg. As I say in times of pain and sorrow, let music be your spirit in life
Here, in English, are the words of on of their songs, "Tè Dunia Laban (Not Forever)"
He who has gold or money only reigns for a time and not forever.
Modibo Keita was in power for a time in Mali but not forever,
Just like Houphouët BOIGNY in Côte d'Ivoire,
Sékou TOURE in Guinea,
Maurice YAMEOGO in Burkina,
Patrice LUMUMBA in the Congo,
Kwami NKROUMAH in Ghana,
Léopold Sédar SENGHOR in Senegal, and
Nelson MANDELA in South Africa:
Each leader reigned, but not forever.
Even if you rule for a hundred years, or a hundred days, one day you will leave.
Life is like that:
Oh Life you do not last.
If you have gold or money you can rule for a time, but not forever in this world.
Pablo
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