What next for Mali?

It’s been three weeks since the beginning of French intervention in Mali. The largest northern towns have now been seized by the French Malian coalition. Today, a few questions emerge Continue reading →

Pédro Kouyaté, a cross cultural griot

I’ve recently had a chat with Pedro Kouyaté, a passionate and nonconformist Malian musician living in Paris. His third album, Live, has recently hit the shelves. Pedro Kouyaté is not Continue reading →

My top 3 albums of 2012

2012 has produced some great musical pieces. Here’s my favourite ones. 1. Aziza Brahim – Mabruk (Reaktion) A journey into the universe of the Sahwari struggle. Guitars, melancholia, frenzied beats meet Continue reading →

Interview with Vieux Farka Touré & Idan Raichel

Vieux Farka Touré and Idan Raichel, the Touré-Raichel Collective, launched the 2012 edition of the Jazz N Klezmer festival. I spoke with these two wandering musicians after the show. Music has Continue reading →

Terakaft: Kel Tamasheq

The Terakaft caravan is unstoppable. A year has passed since the release of Aratan N Azawad, and the Touareg band is back with a fourth album, Kel Tamasheq. Get ready Continue reading →

On the road with Nabil Baly Othmani

I recently followed Nabil Baly Othmani during their European tour. Relive a day on the road with this Touareg band from Djanet, South Algeria. Find out also about their latest Continue reading →

Neoliberal Frontiers

Neoliberalism has had a central place in economic rationale for the past forty years. In Neoliberal Frontiers, Brenda Chalfin gives a great insight of what it means in specific interventions. Continue reading →

Fatoumata Diawara: Simply Fatou

African music fans see her as the next pop star to be. Wherever she goes Fatoumata Diawara makes the headlines. With the recent release of her debut album Fatou, she’s Continue reading →

The Tel Aviv Session: Vieux Farka Touré meets the Middle East

He’s never short of ideas. Vieux Farka Touré comes back under the spotlight with a surprising yet ingenious collaboration. He has teamed up with the versatile Israeli pianist Idan Raichel, Continue reading →

Tinariwen: Tassili

Tinariwen has taken Saharan music to a whole new level over the past decades. Their latest album Tassili slightly shifted towards a new direction. Here’s my verdict. How often do we listen Continue reading →

Interview with Femi Kuti: Music and Politics

Femi Kuti needs no introduction. Son of the legendary Fela Kuti, he has released more than a dozen albums, spanning over two decades. Like his father, he cannot dissociate music Continue reading →

Interview with the Orchestre National de Barbès

The Orchestre National de Barbès was playing in London a couple of weeks ago. I met them to test the water before the show. They talked about their music, Barbès Continue reading →

Three questions to Maria de Barros

Maria de Barros is just a radiant woman. Wherever she goes, sunshine and joie de vivre come along. She’s Cape Verdean by origin but she’s also a citizen of the world. Continue reading →

Punctured Hope: A story about trokosi and young girls slavery

Punctured Hope is a story that takes place nowadays in Ghana, West Africa. The movie tackles the practice of trokosi. According to this custom, if someone commits a crime, traditional Continue reading →

Freshlyground interview

Here’s an old interview I did with the South African act Freshlyground back in 2009. I met Zolani Mahola et Peter Cohen, respectively singer and drummer of the band. They were Continue reading →

Aziza Brahim: The voice of the Sahrawis

Reaktion has become an unavoidable label for Saharan music amateurs. With the release of Aziza Brahim’s debut album, Mabruk, Reaktion confirms their talent at digging out new artists. Time has Continue reading →