I just received the very sad news that the great Malian musician Ali Farka Toure passed away today in his sleep at his home. He had been battling bone cancer.
While I never had the chance to realize a dream of going to visit him at his farm home in Niafunke, I (along with some other foreign journalists) did spend a bit of time with him in northern Mali in early 2003, at the Festival in the Desert. Though I am hardly the first to have noticed these qualities, he struck me as an exceptionally thoughtful, socially committed, and deeply warm-hearted man--at that festival, he spoke movingly about unity between Malians of all ethnic backgrounds. Of course, he was also one of the great guitarists of our time.
This is the press release his labels, World Circuit and Nonesuch, released half an hour ago:
We are deeply saddened to announce that the legendary Malian musician Ali Farka Touré passed away in his sleep at home in Mali on March 7th 2006, he had bone cancer.
Ali Farka Touré was a true original. An exceptional guitarist, he transposed the traditional music of his native north Mali and single-handedly brought the style known as desert blues to an international audience. Last month he won his second GRAMMY award for the album ‘In the Heart of the Moon’ with Toumani Diabaté, and work had just been completed on his new solo album.
Ali saw his main role in life as that of a farmer and for a large part of his life he dedicated his time and resources to better the agricultural and social situation in Niafunké, his home village in the semi-desert region in northern Mali, Ali’s tireless work was officially recognised when he was appointed mayor of the region in 2004.
Ali Farka Touré was a giant of African music and will be missed by fans throughout the world.
ALI FARKA TOURE
1939 - 2006
Comments