Afel Bocoum
b. 1955, Niafunke, Mali. As a child, inspired by his father, who was a renowned local violinist, and by his uncle Ali Farka Tour, Bocoum fashioned guitars out of old road signs. Progressing to a real guitar in his teens, he performed with Ensemble Niafunk, a group led by Tour. Bocoum's high keening vocals can be heard on Radio Mali (a compilation of Tour's recordings from the early 70s). He continued to perform as a part of Tour's band for the next two decades, at the same time holding down a day job in the Malian civil service. He appeared on Tour's acclaimed 1991 album The Source, but it was only at the end of the 90s that Bocoum was able to present his own material with the release of his debut album, Alkibar. Recorded in a portable studio in his home village, at the same time as Tour's Niafunk, Bocoum's album featured a sound that shared much of the West African blues spirit of his mentor (who guested on a couple of tracks), but which also possessed a gentle, spiritual quality of its own. Bocoum and his backing band Alkibar supported Tour on an international tour in 2000, during which he also played guitar with Tour's band.
Listen to Afel Bocoum
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Albums
- (1999) Alkibar
Top Tracks
- Buribalal
- Jaman Moro
- Jeeny
- Alasidi
- Ciro Kayna
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