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Rokia Kone - Jacknife Lee

BAMANAN

Real World - UMG
Release Date: February 18, 2022

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Kurunba
Bambougou N'tji
N'yanyan
1 Bi Ye Tulonba Ye  
2 Shezita (Take A Seat)  
3 Kurunba  
4 N'yanyan  
5 Anw Tile (It's Our Time)  
6 Soyi N'galanba  
7 Bambougou N'tji  
8 Dunden  
9 Mayougouba  
10 Mansa Soyari  
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It’s a voice that soars – pure, clear and true — above bass and synths, traditional percussion and infectious Mande guitar grooves. A stop-you-in-your-tracks voice instantly familiar to anyone in Mali, West Africa: Rokia Koné, aka the Rose of Bamako.

One of Mali’s most beloved and dynamic artists, Koné is a force to be reckoned with. Her captivating performances in the city’s local maquis clubs very often last for hours, as Koné runs the gamut of emotion from joy to despair, fury to tenderness, wielding that astounding voice with grace and power. For her debut album, Koné might have been content with showing off that soulful instrument on a traditional repertoire of songs.

Instead she’s teamed with Irish-born, California-based rock producer Jacknife Lee — and reimagined the Malian sound in ways leftfield and ground breaking.

Welcome, then, BAMANAN, a collaboration that connects the great ancient kingdoms of Mali and the bustling modern street life of its capital, Bamako to a remote recording studio nestled within California’s Topanga Canyon. That bridges deep tradition and forward-facing innovation.

  • 'Rokia Kone & Jacknife Lee - Bamanan' makes 'African Arguments: Best African Albums of 2022'
    Posted At: December 13, 2022 12:00 AM
    African Arguments - WILFRED OKICHE writes….2022 was the year African musicians levelled up big time. Every other month arrived with reports of international record deals, significant chart achievements, or major award nominations. Afrobeats artists from Nigeria claimed a lot of the headlines, but a deeper look reveals the diversity of quality coming out of the continent. This list, while not exhaustive, is ...
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  • Bamanan. Rokia Kone spreads messages of hope, resistance, and history / popMatters
    Posted At: June 17, 2022 12:00 AM
    ROKIA KONÉ’S VOCAL ARTISTRY REACHES A GLOBAL AUDIENCE WITH SOLO DEBUT ‘BAMANAN’popMATTERS Adriane Pontecorvo writes….Within her home country of Mali, Rokia Koné is nicknamed “The Rose of Bamako”, a name that fits the beautiful intensity of her voice. Internationally, she’s best known for her work with supergroup Les Amazones d’Afrique, one of the few members present on both of the ensemble’s albums so far a...
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  • Rokia Kone connects with Jacknife Lee for a fusion of studio gloss and traditional singing / DOWNBEAT
    Posted At: May 4, 2022 12:00 AM
    It’s a voice that soars – pure, clear and true — above bass and synths, traditional percussion and infectious Mande guitar grooves. A stop-you-in-your-tracks voice instantly familiar to anyone in Mali, West Africa: Rokia Koné, aka the Rose of Bamako.One of Mali’s most beloved and dynamic artists, Koné is a force to be reckoned with. Her captivating performances in the city’s local maquis clubs very often la...
    Bookmark and Share
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