Ali Farka Touré (October 31, 1939 – March 7, 2006) was a Malian singer and … Read Full Bio ↴Ali Farka Touré (October 31, 1939 – March 7, 2006) was a Malian singer and multi-instrumentalist, and one of the African continent's most internationally renowned musicians. His music is widely regarded as representing a point of intersection of traditional Malian music and its North American cousin, the blues. The belief that the latter is historically derived from the former is reflected in Martin Scorsese's often quoted characterization of Touré's tradition as constituting "the DNA of the blues".
Ali Ibrahim "Farka" Touré was born in 1939 in the village of Kanau, on the banks of the Niger River in Gourma-Rharous Cercle in the northwestern Malian region of Tombouctou. His family moved to the nearby village of Niafunké when he was still an infant. He was the tenth son of his mother but the only one to survive past infancy. "The name I was given was Ali Ibrahim, but it's a custom in Africa to give a child a strange nickname if you have had other children who have died", Touré was quoted as saying in a biography on his Record Label, World Circuit Records. His nickname, "Farka", chosen by his parents, means "donkey", an animal admired for its tenacity and stubbornness: "Let me make one thing clear. I'm the donkey that nobody climbs on!" Ethnically, he was part Songrai, part Fula.
As the first African bluesman to achieve widespread popularity on his home continent, Touré was often known as "the African John Lee Hooker". Musically, the many superpositions of guitars and rhythms in his music were similar to John Lee Hooker's hypnotic blues style. He usually sang in one of several African languages, mostly Songhay, Fulfulde, Tamasheq or Bambara as on his breakthrough album, Ali Farka Touré, which established his reputation in the world music community.
His first North American concert was in Harrison Hot Springs, British Columbia. 1994's Talking Timbuktu, a collaboration with Ry Cooder, sold promisingly well in Western markets, but was followed by a hiatus from releases in America and Europe. He reappeared in 1999 with the release of Niafunké, a more traditional album focusing on African rhythms and beats. Touré was the mentor and uncle of popular Malian musician Afel Bocoum.
Some of Ali Farka Touré's songs and tunes have been used in different programmes, films and documentaries. For instance, his guitar riff on the song "Diaraby", from the album Talking Timbuktu, was selected for the Geo-quiz segment of The World PRI-BBC program, and was retained by popular demand when put to a vote of the listeners. This song is likewise used in 1998 as a soundtrack for the film L'Assedio (Besieged) by the Italian director Bernardo Bertolucci. His songs Cinquante six, Goye Kur and Hawa Dolo from the album The Source are also used as a soundtrack in the French film Fin août, début septembre (Late August, Early September) directed in 1998 by Olivier Assayas. The song "Lasidan" was featured in the award winning documentary "Sharkwater" by Rob Stewart.
In 2002 he appeared with Black American blues and reggae performer Corey Harris, on an album called Mississippi to Mali (Rounder Records). Toure and Harris also appeared together in Martin Scorsese's 2003 documentary film Feel Like Going Home, which traced the roots of blues back to its genesis in West Africa. The film was narrated by Harris and features Ali's performances on guitar and njarka.
In 2004 Touré became mayor of Niafunké and spent his own money grading the roads, putting in sewer canals and fuelling a generator that provided the impoverished town with electricity.
In September 2005, he released the album In the Heart of the Moon, a collaboration with Toumani Diabaté, for which he received a second Grammy award. His last album, Savane, was posthumously released in July 2006. It was received with wide acclaim by professionals and fans alike and has been nominated for a Grammy Award in the category "Best Contemporary World Music Album". The panel of experts from the World Music Chart Europe (WMCE), a chart voted by the leading World Music specialists around Europe, chose Savane as their Album of the Year 2006, with the album topping the chart for three consecutive months (September to November 2006). The album has also been listed as No. 1 in the influential Metacritic's "Best Albums of 2006" poll, and No. 5 in its all-time best reviewed albums. Ali Farka Touré has also been nominated for the BBC Radio 3 awards 2007.
Touré was ranked number 76 on Rolling Stone's list of "The 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time" and number 37 on Spin magazine's "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time".
His record label, World Circuit, said that he recorded several tracks with his son, Vieux Farka Touré, for Vieux's debut album which was released in late 2006.
On March 7, 2006, the Ministry of Culture of Mali announced his death at age 66 in Bamako from bone cancer, against which he had been battling for some time.
Cultural references
In the French film The Spanish Apartment (2002), two characters are seen playing air guitar to "Ai Du".
In the movie Unfaithful (2002), Diane Lane and Olivier Martinez slow dance to "Ai Du".
In the French film Irma Vep (1996), Maggie Cheung and Nathalie Richard ride an old motorcycle down the quay to Touré's song "Soukoura".
In the 2005 travel film Michael Palin: SAHARA, his music is heard in a scene about Nigerian nomads.
The World, a radio show distributed by Public Radio International, uses the song "Diaraby" as the theme to their Geoquiz. The song is a collaboration between Touré and Ry Cooder; the song is featured on their Talking Timbuktu album.
Discography
1976 - Ali Touré Farka (Sonafric 50016-LP)
1976 - Spécial « Biennale du Mali » (Sonafric 50020-LP)
1978 - Biennale (Sonafric 50032-LP)
1979 - Ali Touré Farka (Sonafric 50060-LP)
1980 - Ali Touré dit Farka (Sonafric 50085-LP)
1984 - Ali Farka Touré (Red) (Sonodisc/Esperance 5558)
1988 - Ali Farka Touré (Green) (Sonodisc/Esperance 8448)
1988 - Ali Farka Touré (World Circuit WCD007 / Mango 9826)
1990 - African Blues (Shanachie 65002) (originally released as Ali Farka Touré (Green))
1990 - The River (World Circuit WCD017 / Mango 9897)
1992 - The Source (World Circuit WCD030 / Hannibal 1375) with Taj Mahal
1994 - Talking Timbuktu (World Circuit WCD040 / Hannibal 1381) (with Ry Cooder)
1995 - The Rough Guide to West African Music (World Music Network RGNET-1002) (contributing artist)
1996 - Radio Mali (World Circuit WCD044 / Nonesuch 79569) (remastered selections of original albums from 1975 through 1980)
1999 - Niafunké (World Circuit WCD054 / Hannibal 1443)
2002 - Mississippi to Mali (Rounder B0000DJZA1)(with Corey Harris)
2004 - Red&Green (World Circuit WCD070 / Nonesuch 79882) (remastered original albums from 1984 and 1988)
2005 - In the Heart of the Moon (World Circuit WCD072 / Nonesuch 79920) (with Toumani Diabaté and Ry Cooder)
2006 - Savane (World Circuit WCD075 / Nonesuch 79965)
2010 - Ali and Toumani - (World Circuit/Nonesuch Records) with Toumani Diabaté
Ali Ibrahim "Farka" Touré was born in 1939 in the village of Kanau, on the banks of the Niger River in Gourma-Rharous Cercle in the northwestern Malian region of Tombouctou. His family moved to the nearby village of Niafunké when he was still an infant. He was the tenth son of his mother but the only one to survive past infancy. "The name I was given was Ali Ibrahim, but it's a custom in Africa to give a child a strange nickname if you have had other children who have died", Touré was quoted as saying in a biography on his Record Label, World Circuit Records. His nickname, "Farka", chosen by his parents, means "donkey", an animal admired for its tenacity and stubbornness: "Let me make one thing clear. I'm the donkey that nobody climbs on!" Ethnically, he was part Songrai, part Fula.
As the first African bluesman to achieve widespread popularity on his home continent, Touré was often known as "the African John Lee Hooker". Musically, the many superpositions of guitars and rhythms in his music were similar to John Lee Hooker's hypnotic blues style. He usually sang in one of several African languages, mostly Songhay, Fulfulde, Tamasheq or Bambara as on his breakthrough album, Ali Farka Touré, which established his reputation in the world music community.
His first North American concert was in Harrison Hot Springs, British Columbia. 1994's Talking Timbuktu, a collaboration with Ry Cooder, sold promisingly well in Western markets, but was followed by a hiatus from releases in America and Europe. He reappeared in 1999 with the release of Niafunké, a more traditional album focusing on African rhythms and beats. Touré was the mentor and uncle of popular Malian musician Afel Bocoum.
Some of Ali Farka Touré's songs and tunes have been used in different programmes, films and documentaries. For instance, his guitar riff on the song "Diaraby", from the album Talking Timbuktu, was selected for the Geo-quiz segment of The World PRI-BBC program, and was retained by popular demand when put to a vote of the listeners. This song is likewise used in 1998 as a soundtrack for the film L'Assedio (Besieged) by the Italian director Bernardo Bertolucci. His songs Cinquante six, Goye Kur and Hawa Dolo from the album The Source are also used as a soundtrack in the French film Fin août, début septembre (Late August, Early September) directed in 1998 by Olivier Assayas. The song "Lasidan" was featured in the award winning documentary "Sharkwater" by Rob Stewart.
In 2002 he appeared with Black American blues and reggae performer Corey Harris, on an album called Mississippi to Mali (Rounder Records). Toure and Harris also appeared together in Martin Scorsese's 2003 documentary film Feel Like Going Home, which traced the roots of blues back to its genesis in West Africa. The film was narrated by Harris and features Ali's performances on guitar and njarka.
In 2004 Touré became mayor of Niafunké and spent his own money grading the roads, putting in sewer canals and fuelling a generator that provided the impoverished town with electricity.
In September 2005, he released the album In the Heart of the Moon, a collaboration with Toumani Diabaté, for which he received a second Grammy award. His last album, Savane, was posthumously released in July 2006. It was received with wide acclaim by professionals and fans alike and has been nominated for a Grammy Award in the category "Best Contemporary World Music Album". The panel of experts from the World Music Chart Europe (WMCE), a chart voted by the leading World Music specialists around Europe, chose Savane as their Album of the Year 2006, with the album topping the chart for three consecutive months (September to November 2006). The album has also been listed as No. 1 in the influential Metacritic's "Best Albums of 2006" poll, and No. 5 in its all-time best reviewed albums. Ali Farka Touré has also been nominated for the BBC Radio 3 awards 2007.
Touré was ranked number 76 on Rolling Stone's list of "The 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time" and number 37 on Spin magazine's "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time".
His record label, World Circuit, said that he recorded several tracks with his son, Vieux Farka Touré, for Vieux's debut album which was released in late 2006.
On March 7, 2006, the Ministry of Culture of Mali announced his death at age 66 in Bamako from bone cancer, against which he had been battling for some time.
Cultural references
In the French film The Spanish Apartment (2002), two characters are seen playing air guitar to "Ai Du".
In the movie Unfaithful (2002), Diane Lane and Olivier Martinez slow dance to "Ai Du".
In the French film Irma Vep (1996), Maggie Cheung and Nathalie Richard ride an old motorcycle down the quay to Touré's song "Soukoura".
In the 2005 travel film Michael Palin: SAHARA, his music is heard in a scene about Nigerian nomads.
The World, a radio show distributed by Public Radio International, uses the song "Diaraby" as the theme to their Geoquiz. The song is a collaboration between Touré and Ry Cooder; the song is featured on their Talking Timbuktu album.
Discography
1976 - Ali Touré Farka (Sonafric 50016-LP)
1976 - Spécial « Biennale du Mali » (Sonafric 50020-LP)
1978 - Biennale (Sonafric 50032-LP)
1979 - Ali Touré Farka (Sonafric 50060-LP)
1980 - Ali Touré dit Farka (Sonafric 50085-LP)
1984 - Ali Farka Touré (Red) (Sonodisc/Esperance 5558)
1988 - Ali Farka Touré (Green) (Sonodisc/Esperance 8448)
1988 - Ali Farka Touré (World Circuit WCD007 / Mango 9826)
1990 - African Blues (Shanachie 65002) (originally released as Ali Farka Touré (Green))
1990 - The River (World Circuit WCD017 / Mango 9897)
1992 - The Source (World Circuit WCD030 / Hannibal 1375) with Taj Mahal
1994 - Talking Timbuktu (World Circuit WCD040 / Hannibal 1381) (with Ry Cooder)
1995 - The Rough Guide to West African Music (World Music Network RGNET-1002) (contributing artist)
1996 - Radio Mali (World Circuit WCD044 / Nonesuch 79569) (remastered selections of original albums from 1975 through 1980)
1999 - Niafunké (World Circuit WCD054 / Hannibal 1443)
2002 - Mississippi to Mali (Rounder B0000DJZA1)(with Corey Harris)
2004 - Red&Green (World Circuit WCD070 / Nonesuch 79882) (remastered original albums from 1984 and 1988)
2005 - In the Heart of the Moon (World Circuit WCD072 / Nonesuch 79920) (with Toumani Diabaté and Ry Cooder)
2006 - Savane (World Circuit WCD075 / Nonesuch 79965)
2010 - Ali and Toumani - (World Circuit/Nonesuch Records) with Toumani Diabaté
My Body
Ali Farka Touré Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'My Body' by these artists:
A Love Like Pi I can barely wait to see your face Crack its weary…
A.J. Blanc Full speed. Brakes off, turn me I didn?t know that you…
Alex A Everything around me is rotting This kind of instability is …
Alice Cooper What have I got That makes you want to love me Now…
Amyth (Wayne) Girl I've been waiting for the right time To bring…
Andy Iman [Intro Chorus]1 Do you want my body! Cause, I can give you…
Ann Marie Uh, uh Uh, uh Oh, no, no, no (Troy Taylor, you the GOAT) Oh,…
B.A.R.S. Murre Hmmm I feel that shit in my body Hmmm Ain’t nobody can touch…
Benjamin Grant When yall niggz tell these bitches don't fuck with me That…
Black Atlass Love you Love you, I do I love you My body, your temple Two…
Bossy I.N.G All I'm looking for Is a little bit more rope To wrap…
Carson Paskill Just let a moment pass Holding you in my grasp You make…
COI LERAY It's my body, I could fuck who I want to Fuck…
Crystal Nicole If you could I believe Cuz you can make that to…
D.J.H. Featuring Stefy First off fuck a hoe and fuck a bitch Nigga Used…
Danity Kane Would you like that? Do you like that? I know…
Dante Everybody, Wants my body,…
Don Voyer Everybody wants my Everybody wants my Everybody wants my …
Eliza Shaddad No use in hiding how he plays on my mind As…
Fredo Bang I got new shoes on my ride (yes, sir) Rollin' down…
Future Thieves I swear there’s no difference between us You saw what you…
FvN I love me, love being me, I love my body Love…
G-Baby You like me I know you do You seen how My body move So…
Gerald Levert Body My body, your body (all over your body baby) My body,…
Gerald Levert Keith Sweat Johnny Gill Your body My body, your body (All over your body baby) My b…
Gerilson Insrael Você sabe que não posso controlar A outra parte de mim…
Hadise Here we are, alone in a room Only dressed by a…
How to Dress Well My body My body is waiting Who was at my door? Who could…
J.B. music I didn't like my ears so I chopped 'em off I…
Ja Rule feat. Ashley Joi Oh Oh Here We Go Now Shake Your Body Like A Tambourine Gi…
Jena Irene Stop! the train is riding Down to the station Where you li…
Jermaine Stewart Seen this girl at an all-night party We turned it out,…
Justin Jesso You and I are young and broken We both have shit…
Keith Swear & LSG Body My body, your body (all over your body baby) My body,…
Keith Sweat Your body My body, your body (All over your body baby) My b…
Keith Sweat Featuring Gerald Levert & Johnny Gill Your body My body, your body (All over your body baby) …
Keith Sweat [feat. Gerald Levert & Johnny Gill] Your body My body, your body (All over your body baby) My b…
Latto (On, on, on and on, on) (Ghost Kid the producer) I just…
lemin. I never think about you, but my body does And it…
Levert Sweat Gill Your body My body, your body (All over your body baby) My b…
Lina Štalytė I am loving My body Taking Time In the morning I am loving M…
LP I feel like starting over Punk Rock from Bossa Nova Change m…
LSG Body My body, your body (all over your body baby) My body,…
LSG (R&B) Body My body, your body (all over your body baby) My bod…
LSG feat. Missy Body My body, your body (all over your body baby) My body,…
Marmalade Mountain When my body gets too old And my body gets too…
Mia J Full speed. Brakes off, turn me I didn?t know that you…
MiloXO You say that you never had Nobody try to play you Like…
Mitski I'm not doing anything I'm not doing anything My body's made…
Molly Nilsson I love mybody Like nobody Could ever love Anybody I love my…
mulatto (On, on, on and on, on) (Ghost Kid the producer) I just…
Nada 너 땜에 말이 많이 돌아 다들 돌아서 그래도 너만 있음 된단…
Nayer OOOOooh My body OOOOooh Your body OOOOooh My body OOOOooh Yo…
No frills Twins I want to fall in love with me Cause I've…
Omar Morto Never been the type to pull out of the club…
OMB Bloodbath One wrong move everybody gonna die I don't trust nobody ever…
Paloma Faith This might be a bit typical but it is all…
Panam Percy Paul My body is your sanctuary My body is your sanctuary Purify m…
Perfume Genius I go hungry Pick at the shell Paw the bottom Of the…
Sammi Morelli I hate Hate everything Everything I see I could never be me …
Screaming Females You draw me in disguise And paint me paralyzed, it's true Yo…
Seann Miley Moore My body Is not a project No draft Could ever be this perfect…
slayyyter Baby, turn the lights down Tell me, are you here to…
Smooth Stuck in my ways i aint changing for no one If…
Solidstar She Say I'm Nice And She Say Am Sweet Every Night And…
Solidstar feat. Timaya Abbe(Yagga) Eehhh Ooohh She Say I′m Nice And She Say Am Swe…
Solidstar featuring Timaya Abbe (Yagga) eehhh Ooohh she Say I'm Nice And She Say Am…
Tank Oh, all night I been puttin' alcohol in your body (Oh,…
The Chateaux My body - objet d'art My body - objet d'art Blue…
The Giant Stop! The train is riding Down to the station where you live…
The Life Catch a body for my zip code Leave your top open…
Trin-i-tee 5:7 Who do you think I am I don't play these Games Not…
VANÈS I feel your words on my skin Same old echo from…
Volbeat Stop the train is ridin' down to the station Where you…
Volbeat (Den) Stop the train is ridin' down to the station Where you…
Young and the Giant Stop! The train is riding Down to the station where you live…
YoungBoy Never Broke Again (Just ask me) (D-roc) Oh Had you on my mind 'til this morni…
Zaska So scandalous Renegade soldier God I trust Keep my composur…
Zlatan Shanko shanko Shanko shanko Shanko shanko Zlatan shanko ehh …
Νότης Σφακιανάκης Σώμα μου, απόψε πάλι νίκησες Και την καρδιά μου λύγισες. Καυ…
We have lyrics for these tracks by Ali Farka Touré:
Allah Uya allah uya mayfsvhz ajfsjsyjsgajfafs shhsgysyfejsyys hsusyehw…
Beto I lay down with an angel I lay down with an…
Diaraby Carilla gara dis Quelle il a da du may de fait Carilla…
Hawa Dolo hawa dololo hawa dololo hawa hawa dololo hawa hawa né yaté b…
I Go Ka Manane koy deyyyy Ay koy deydeyyy Sakanane koyy No bey ndey …
Mali Dje I lay down with an angel I lay down with an…
Savane J'ai quitte' mon pays et ma Louisiane Mais dans d'autres pay…
Soko Лети соко преко Равне Горе и дозива четничке војводе Глас с…
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
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pete
on Mali Dje
where are the lyrics at? english and italian??? wtf?
Willis Ambusso, Kenya
on Inchana Massina
Strong African element using western instruments. My best group song. Very danceable. RIP maestro