Malian born Ali Farka Toure is perhaps one of Africa’s best known musicians. With over 19 albums to his name, he has garnered international acclaim. Ali’s style is a blend of worldly guitar know-how (particularly–but not limited to–blues guitar) and traditional African music with emphasis on strong rhythm and vocal work. In this particular video, showing him playing Goye Kur with Afel Bocoum in the Festival in the Desert festival, all of his strong points are found: The chorus of singers, the intricate guitar work, and the traditional driving rhythm.
Ali says in this video that the festival was organized for people who had never heard of the word “festival.” This idea could be applied to his music. The way he plays the guitar and the way his songs are structured evoke a nice calm feeling, one anyone could get in on, dance to, relax to, or whatever. Basically, its just happy music; festival music! You can tell from watching all the performers on stage, and the shots of the audience that everyone is having a good time. There’s a groove everyone’s getting into. At the heart of this music is a communal spirit, one of sharing and contribution. Everyone’s singing, everyone’s clapping, everyone’s dancing, and everyone is enjoying.
In Ali’s playing in general this sort of emotion is brought out in his playful bouncing guitar style, with licks that hop all around the guitar neck. Ali’s style reflects a great love for his country, and a celebration of people in general.
