Ali Farka Touré – An Introduction to the Legend

Ali Farka Touré

It is going to take some time and space to chronicle this really special artist. So here is part 1.

Ali was born in 1939 in the village of Kanau near Gourma Rahous on the banks of the River Niger in the north west of Mali. He was the tenth son of his mother but the only one to survive to infancy. “I lost nine brothers of the same mother and father. 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 lost the other children.” The nickname they chose for Ali was ‘Farka’ meaning donkey, an animal admired for its strength and tenacity. “But let me make one thing clear” he says, “I’m the donkey that nobody climbs on!” [From  Mali Music]

Ali Farka Touré was an ace vocalist, guitarist and composer. His talent became accessible to the world via Ry Cooder. These two collaborated to release an album — Talking Timbuktu. Ali was a versatile musician and could render songs in different styles and unusual rhythms.

He primarily played on his guitar but is known to play some haunting melodies on the Njarka – small fiddle-like instrument. Here is him jamming with the American musician — Correy Harris.

Ali is not with us anymore but he continues to live through Vieux Farka Toure. Praises!