Afel Bocoum

Afel Bocoum

Afel Bocoum belongs to a pioneering generation of African musicians who were the first to blend their own traditional music with a contemporary sound. Hailing from Niafunké in the Timbuktu region of Mali, an area that bridges the cultural wealth and political tensions between the northern and southern regions of the country, Bocoum spent three decades touring and recording with desert blues pioneer Ali Farka Touré. His debut album Alkibar (1999, World Circuit) subsequently brought him international recognition, leading to collaborations as diverse as British pop star Damon Albarn, the Concertgebouw Orchestra and African star Toumani Diabaté for the album Mali Music .

Message of hope, solidarity and unity

His most recent album Lindé (2020), named after the wild plain near his birthplace where he spent his youth exploring, is a remarkable blend of deep tradition and bold innovation. With the support of producers Damon Albarn and Nick Gold, Lindé bridges centuries-old musical traditions. Bocoum’s music is rock-and-roll, graceful, effortless and minimal in design. And his message – in the face of an uncertain and turbulent world, and a homeland struggling with jihad, poverty and tribal warfare – urges hope, solidarity and unity.

'Our social security is music'

"We need to meet, talk, look each other in the eye and tell the truth," says Afel. "Our social security is music. That's all we have left. People love music, so we need to use it."