Rokia Traoré
Bowmboï

Rokia Traoré is a singer-songwriter from Mali, a country that has become a pilgrimage destination for many European artists seeking inspiration, with Damon Albarn among them. It is also the homeland of the more famous Ali Farka Touré, who collaborated with Ry Cooder and has been dubbed the "John Lee Hooker" of Mali.
But let's return to our heroine with a gentle and soothing voice, calm, yet capable of sumptuous and relentless gallops. Not that I'm a fanatic of Afro or ethnic music in general, although I must admit that sometimes I enjoy listening to it to know where the music of other countries is headed.

Rokia's music is music of simple stories, of awareness, of rediscovering one's roots, a sort of "folk-roots" where the strong echoes of classical, jazz, and pop music are nonetheless felt. The album is mostly reflective, intense, introspective, somewhat melancholic, but it doesn't forgo songs with true "crescendos" supported by masterful percussion, classical instruments (guitar and bass) alongside traditional instruments (like the balafon or the n'goni). The songs that stand out in this regard are certainly the beautiful "Sara," the orchestral "Manian," and the delightful "Niènafing."

At times, Rokia Traoré's voice reminds one of Ani Di Franco for its intensity, passion, and range; however, I'm not sure if her lyrics carry the same power and anger as the singer from Buffalo (does anyone speak "Malian" or whatever it’s called?).
Nonetheless, it's definitely an album to consider, especially for lovers of the genre... or if you're not a fan, at least have an openness to music that is a bit "different."