Concert

Bassekou Kouyaté is one of the most interesting and exciting artists in today’s African music scene. The American blues guitarist Taj Mahal describes Bassekou Kouyaté as a genius and living proof that blues comes out of the region of Segou in Mali. Bassekou’s countryman Ali Farka Toure once called him "a raw African diamond". He is considered the world’s leading ngoni player (ngoni is a three or four-stringed lute in Mali), who revolutionised traditional griot music by bringing together ngonis of different sizes and tunings for the first time in his band "Ngoni Ba". With their unique sound and the fantastic singer Amy Sacko, "Ngoni Ba" has been elating audiences around the world for many years.
The BBC selected Bassekou Kouyaté as "Best African Artist of the Year", while the Independent called Ngoni Ba "the best rock’n’roll band in the world" after their prize-winner’s concert at Royal Albert Hall.

In "Mali Blues" you get to know more about Bassekou Kouyaté and the music scene in Mali. Here you will get more information about the film and you can watch the trailer.