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
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
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
Afro Celt Sound System's winning formula combines high energy African rhythms with Celtic influences and Indian percussion – the ultimate festival party band
The pre-eminent Malian kora player Toumani Diabaté talks to Simon Broughton about his special one-off collaboration with the London Symphony Orchestra
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
Take an exclusive look inside our special collector's edition on West African music
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
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
The recent arrest of Sidiki Diabaté has shocked the music community and highlighted issues of domestic violence towards women in Mali
Songlines’ editors Jo Frost and Simon Broughton select their favourite albums of 2017
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
Robert Plant’s Saving Grace and an exclusive Transatlantic Sessions showcase among the early highlights for this summer’s iteration of the celebrated music summit, which marks its 60th anniversary this year
The Afro Celt Sound System founder, initiator of The Imagined Village, record producer, composer, guitarist and birdsong enthusiast has passed away
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