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Ali Ibrahim “Farka” Touré (1939-2006) was a malian singer and guitarist born in Kanau, Mali, Africa. His music is at the crossroad of traditional malian music (one of the main roots of contemporary North American blues) and modern feedback influences from North American and English blues.
Ali Ibrahim “Farka” Touré was born in 1939 (he did not know the exact date of birth) in the Muslim village of Kanau, near Gourma Rharous, on the banks of the Niger River, in the northwestern Malian region of Tombouctou. He was the tenth son of his mother but the only one to survive past infancy. “The name I was given was Ali Ibrahim, but it’s a custom in Africa to give a child a strange nickname if you have had other children who have died,” Touré was quoted as saying in a biography on his Record Label, World Circuit Records. His nickname, “Farka”, chosen by his parents, means “donkey” - an animal admired for its tenacity and stubbornness. “Let me make one thing clear. I’m the donkey that nobody climbs on!” He was descended from the ancient military force known as the Arma, and was ethnically tied to the Songrai (Songhai) and Peul peoples of northern Mali.
As the first African bluesman to achieve widespread popularity on his home continent, Touré was often known as “the African John Lee Hooker”. Musically, the many superpositions of guitars and rhythms in his music were similar to R. L. Burnside’s hypnotic blues style. He usually sang in one of several African languages, mostly Songhay, Fulfulde, or Tamasheq, as on his breakthrough album, Ali Farka Touré, which established his reputation in the world music community.
Ali Ibrahim “Farka” Touré was born in 1939 (he did not know the exact date of birth) in the Muslim village of Kanau, near Gourma Rharous, on the banks of the Niger River, in the northwestern Malian region of Tombouctou. He was the tenth son of his mother but the only one to survive past infancy. “The name I was given was Ali Ibrahim, but it’s a custom in Africa to give a child a strange nickname if you have had other children who have died,” Touré was quoted as saying in a biography on his Record Label, World Circuit Records. His nickname, “Farka”, chosen by his parents, means “donkey” - an animal admired for its tenacity and stubbornness. “Let me make one thing clear. I’m the donkey that nobody climbs on!” He was descended from the ancient military force known as the Arma, and was ethnically tied to the Songrai (Songhai) and Peul peoples of northern Mali.
As the first African bluesman to achieve widespread popularity on his home continent, Touré was often known as “the African John Lee Hooker”. Musically, the many superpositions of guitars and rhythms in his music were similar to R. L. Burnside’s hypnotic blues style. He usually sang in one of several African languages, mostly Songhay, Fulfulde, or Tamasheq, as on his breakthrough album, Ali Farka Touré, which established his reputation in the world music community.
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Savane
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Niafunke
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Talking Timbuktu
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The Source
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Shoutbox
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ksjn wrote:
I love me some Ali,,
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VK1990 wrote:
beto
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pihoslav wrote:
THE MAN when it comes to blues by me.
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jgganeto wrote:
Unique Strings
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Davadarho wrote:
The wisdom of african music. Rest in Peace, Farka !
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kpalsson wrote:
So good!
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art_of_ashes wrote:
Love him.
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pvmnt wrote:
ai du
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onelittleatlas wrote:
Are the similar artists below Ali worth listening to? Im most likely going to have a look but i thought someone here could show me the way.
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Schulerr wrote:
J'adore J'adore et... J'adore !!!
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Eyoki wrote:
I love "The River". It's a beautiful album.
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hollabackitsobi wrote:
Why does the original image have to be so...meh?
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sayfuddeen wrote:
جـــــــــــــزاك الله...السلام عليكم...ما شاء الله, ما شاء الله
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theoryjean wrote:
ai du
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bal-i_cibril wrote:
Amazing music!!!!!
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jrisgod wrote:
Ali & Toumani is the truth. Sensational music.
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GHELIX wrote:
i`ve started to enjoy african mood
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mathewjordan wrote:
praise ali
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deliriumtremens wrote:
"The River" is one of the best albums I've ever listened to!
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Quinnster wrote:
Truly amazing.
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ThomasVandervek and 12 other people added Ali Farka Touré to their libraries. yesterday afternoon
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mspd tagged Ali Farka Touré with ‘blues’. last week
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Inwitari_ tagged Ali Farka Touré with blues, mali, world and one other tag. last month
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