A Beginner's Guide
A Beginner's Guide to Habib Koité
The Malian singer-songwriter Habib Koité is also one of his country’s leading guitarists. Daniel Brown reflects on the artist’s recordings and career to date
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Features
The return of Afro Celt Sound System
The global groove and harmony evangelists return with their first album since the death of founder Simon Emmerson. Jane Cornwell chats to original members, and now bandleaders, Johnny Kalsi and N’Faly Kouyaté
Features
My World: Eddie Kadi
For the Congolese-British comedian, music and entertainment have always gone hand in hand. He tells Emma Rycroft about the sounds of his upbringing and his continued role as a “facilitator of modern-day African music”
The Rough Guide to World Music
The Rough Guide to World Music: Mali
Few African countries have contributed so many important artists to the World Music market: Salif Keita, Toumani Diabaté, Habib Koité, Kandia Kouyaté, Oumou Sangaré and the late Ali Farka Touré being but a few
Artists
Afro Celt Sound System
Afro Celt Sound System's winning formula combines high energy African rhythms with Celtic influences and Indian percussion – the ultimate festival party band
Features
“Beethoven passed away 250 years ago, but the music I’m playing is way older than that” | Toumani Diabaté on his album with the London Symphony Orchestra
The pre-eminent Malian kora player Toumani Diabaté talks to Simon Broughton about his special one-off collaboration with the London Symphony Orchestra
Features
Oumou Sangaré interview: “Africa can evolve while preserving certain traditions that are worth preserving”
Oumou Sangaré contemplates the current state of her native Mali. She speaks to Andy Morgan about how music and mogoya may be the only things that can save it. Photography by Holly Whittaker
Features
“He's doing things I've never heard anyone do before” | Introducing... Boubacar 'Badian' Diabaté
West African acoustic-axe fans take note – a new Malian griot guitarist is here to ratchet up the note ratios with some seriously fleet fretboard action, picking up fans such as Bill Frisell along the way
News
Songlines Presents... The Music of West Africa digital sampler
Take an exclusive look inside our special collector's edition on West African music
Features
Songlines Best Albums of 2017
Songlines’ editors Jo Frost and Simon Broughton select their favourite albums of 2017
News
Diabaté in the dock
The recent arrest of Sidiki Diabaté has shocked the music community and highlighted issues of domestic violence towards women in Mali
Features
Toumani Diabaté and Ballaké Sissoko: 21 Strings
With Toumani and Ballaké’s epochal New Ancient Strings to be reissued for its 25th anniversary, we speak to Lucy Durán, the album’s producer, about the unique recording and her documentary tracing the history of the kora
Features
Dispatch From Belo Horizonte, Brazil
A vibrant arts and hip-hop scene is happening in the Minas Gerais city. Songlines spoke to those who have been instrumental in its boom
News
Obituary: Simon Emmerson (1956-2023)
The Afro Celt Sound System founder, initiator of The Imagined Village, record producer, composer, guitarist and birdsong enthusiast has passed away
