The influence of African pop music on Western musicians like Foals and Vampire Weekend has been at the forefront of indie music in recent years, but that influence runs both ways. Malian maestro Bassekou Kouyate is a virtuoso picker whose work unites some of the best qualities of West African and American roots music. Bassekou plays the ngoni (spike lute), a precursor to the banjo, and on I Speak Fula Kouyate leads his family band Ngoni Ba (big ngoni), the first band built around four ngonis. With a variety of differently pitched lutes, Kouyate and his brothers create an acoustic barrage of plucking and strumming with an amazing range of textures. I Speak Fula includes notable Malian guest musicians like Toumani Diabate, Kasse Mady Diabate, Zoumana Tereta and Vieux Farka Toure. I highly recommend the truly stunning sophomore album I Speak Fula – go out and get it. – Written by JFelton
SIMILAR | Afel Bocoum, Abdoulaye Diabaté, Andra Kouyaté, Taj Mahal, Ali Farka Touré, Lobi Traoré