Traoré was born in Kolokani, Mali as a member of the Bambara ethnic group. As her father was a diplomat, she travelled widely in her youth travelling to Algeria, Saudi Arabia, France and Belgium. As a result of this travel, she was exposed to a wide variety of influences.
The Bambara also had a tradition of griot performing at weddings although members of the nobility such as Traoré are discouraged from performing as musicians. Traoré attended lycée in Mali when her father was stationed in Brussels and started performing publicly. As well as guitar she plays ngoni (lute) and balafon.
In 1997 she linked with Mali musician Ali Farka Touré which raised her profile. She won a Radio France Internationale prize as African discovery of 1997, an honor previously won by Mali's Habib Koité in 1993.
Her first album Mouneïssa (Label Bleu), released in late 1997 in Mali and 1998 in Europe, was acclaimed for its fresh treatment and unqualifiable combinations of several Malian music traditions such as her use of the ngoni and the balafon. It sold over 40,000 copies in Europe.
In 2000, her second album Wanita was released. Traoré wrote and arranged the whole album. The album was widely acclaimed with the New York Times nominating it as one of its critics' albums of the year.
Her 2003 album Bowmboï has two tracks recorded with the Kronos Quartet but still sung in the Bambara language, and was awarded the prestigious BBC 3 World Music Award. As of 2005, she has been nominated three times for this award.
In 2008, her latest album "Tchamantché" was released.
ADDITIONAL READING:
Singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Rokia Traoré’s Beautiful Africa will be released on April 1, 2013, by Nonesuch Records in France and April 8, 2013 in Europe, Canada and USA. The record was produced by English musician John Parish (PJ Harvey, Eels, Sparklehorse) and recorded at Toybox Studios in Bristol, UK. Its lyrics are sung in the Malian–born Traoré’s native languages of French and Bambara, as well as some English.
Pitchfork described Traoré’s most recent record, 2009’s Tchamantché, as “a guitar album of a particularly understated bent...hauntingly spare yet ridiculously well-defined, the timbre and tone of every string presented in perfect resolution.” And the BBC World Service called it “One of the best albums of the year. An absolute stunner.” Tchamantché also won a Victoires de la Musique (the equivalent of a Grammy Award in France) and a Songlines Artist of the Year Award for Traoré.
The daughter of a Malian diplomat who was posted to the US, Europe, and the Middle East, Traoré studied sociology in Brussels before embarking on her musical career. Although based in Bamako, Traoré has, for her son’s safety, temporarily relocated to Paris due to the current conflict in Mali. Her music draws upon her homeland’s traditions as well as the European and American rock and pop she has listened to throughout her life.
Traoré has explored a breadth of directions in her career. She recently collaborated with Nobel Prize–winning novelist Toni Morrison and MacArthur “Genius” Grant winning director Peter Sellars on the theater piece Desdemona. The piece premiered in Vienna in the summer of 2011 and received its New York premiere at Lincoln Center that fall; its UK premiere was at the Barbican in London in the summer of 2012. The Guardian called it “a remarkable, challenging and bravely original new work.”
The Barbican also produced a three-night series of shows by Traoré that summer, entitled Donguili – Donke – Damou (Sing – Dance – Dream). For the Sing evening, held at the Barbican, Traoré and mandolinist/former Led Zeppelin bassist John Paul Jones joined young musicians from Traoré’s training program in Mali, Foundation Passerelle. Dance, at the Village Underground rock club, featured Traoré and her band playing the high-energy, danceable shows she is well known for—joined by Parish on guitar. And for Dream, which took place in an East End theater, Traoré narrated an ancient Malian tale, with occasional musical interludes. Australia’s Sydney Festival also presented Donguili – Donke – Damou in January 2013. Traoré was awarded the inaugural Roskilde Festival World Music Award in 2009 for her work with Foundation Passerelle.
In the autumn of 2012, Traoré joined Damon Albarn’s UK train tour Africa Express, performing scheduled concerts in Middlesbrough, Glasgow, Manchester, Cardiff, Bristol, and London as well as pop-up performances at railway stations, schools, factories, offices, shopping centers, and private homes. Other musicians on the tour included John Paul Jones, Amadou Bagayoko, Baaba Maal, and Paul McCartney.
Koronoko
Rokia Traoré Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Korônokô
Komounou mankan ni youlou da i bè korônokô
Koda koma
Korônokô
Komounou mankan
Ka noulou da ka korônokô
Koda koma tén
Komounou mankan ni youlou da i bè korônokô
Ko mousso bèni
Mousso yé tén
Amana fô ko
Mousso ba kôrô ou kabô
I manata moussoni kolo ou labô
Mousso ni kolo ti
Mousso ba kôrô dioyôrô fa
I yé korônokô
Koda koma tén
Korônokô
Komounou mankan ni youlou da i bè korônokô
Koda koma
Korônokô
Komounou mankan
Ka noulou da ka korônokô
Koda koma tén
Korônokô
Komounou mankan ni youlou da i bè korônokô
Na ouma moussobakôrô wélé
Tén tè korôdilan
Nazarakan fôla dé biè ti kodon na
A manafô ko kodon na ou kè bô
I manata kounfi kôrô ou labô
Oulou ti mâ lamè ou tè yinikan
Maya doun yé déké dékeni déké déyé dowbè
Djon si kélén tè kobè don
Koda koma tén
Ouhou koronoko
Komounou mankan ni youlou da i bè korônokô
Koda koma
Korônokô
Komounou mankan ni youlou da i bè korônokô
Koda koma tén
Korônokô
Komounou mankan ni youlou da i bè korônokô
Na ouma tchèbakôrô ou wélé tén tè korôdilan
A mana niakami
An ga tchè ou wélé sa
Ou ka sèbènôkan fô
Kodon tchè ou yo
An ga tchè ou wélé sa
Ou ka sèbènôkan fô
A mana niakami
An ga mousso ou wélé
Ou ka sèbènôkan fô
Kodon mousso ou yo
An ga mousso ou wélé
Ou ka sèbènôkan fô
Ko na ti niènèbô
Aou yé tchè ou wélé sa
Ou ka sèbènôkan fô
Ko don tchè ou yo
An ga tchè ou wélé sa
Ou ka sèbènôkan fô
A mana niakami
Aou yé Balla wélé
A ka sèbènôkan fô
Dianguina Mousso
Fô naou yé Balla wélé
A ka sèbènôkan fô
Dianguina Mahamadou ko
Kaou ka Balla wélé
A ka sèbènôkan fô
Dossolo Moussa
Fôna ou yé Balla wélé
A ka sèbènôkan fô
Dianguina Fatoumata ko
Ka ou yé Balla wélé
A ka sèbènôkan fô
Fatouma Moussa
Fôna ou yé Balla wélé
A ka sèbènôkan fô
A mana niakami
A ou yé Balla wélé
A ka sèbènôkan fô
Ténin Sôfin Moussa
Fôna ou yé Balla wélé
A ka sèbènôkan fô
A mana niakami
A ou yé Balla wélé
A ka sèbènôkan fô
Niangarô ka Moussa
Fô naou yé Balla wélé
A ka sèbènôkan fô
A mana niakami
A ou yé Balla wélé
A ka sèbènôkan fô
Ténin Matta ka Moussa
Fôna ou yé Balla wélé
A ka sèbènôkan fô
Ko na ti niènèbô
Aou yé Balla wélé
A ka sèbènôkan fô
Sissama ka Moussa
Fô naou yé Balla wélé
A ka sèbènôkan fô
A mana niakami
A ou yé Balla wélé
A ka sèbènôkan fô
Fanta Bandjo ka Moussa
Fô naou yé Balla wélé
A ka sèbènôkan fô
Djanguina Youssou ko
Ko kaou ka Balla wélé
A ka sèbènôkan fô
Doussou Coulibaly ka Moussa
Basétou Moussa... ah ! Balla
A ka sèbènôkan fô
A mana niakami
A ou yé Balla wélé
Bouakari Dossolo Moussa
Fô naou yé Balla wélé
A ka sèbènôkan fô
A ka sèbènôkan fô
A ka sèbènôkan fô
A ka sèbènôkan fô
A ka sèbènôkan fô
The song "Koronoko" by Rokia Traoré is a tribute to a Malian pioneer female orchestra formed in the 1960s, led by the famous singer Ami Koita and named "Kolonko". The title of the song is a phonetic transcription of the name of the orchestra. Traoré sings about the importance of the orchestra in Mali's cultural history and its role in empowering women. The lyrics are a mix of Bambara and French, a common trait in Traoré's songs.
The first verse introduces the name of the orchestra "Kolonko", repeated several times in a hypnotic rhythm. The second verse talks about "mousso beni" (blessed women) who represent the orchestra members and their critical position in Malian society. Traoré speaks about the challenges faced by women in Mali and how the members of "Kolonko" broke the societal barriers by establishing an all-women orchestra. The final verses are a tribute to past members of the orchestra, with their names being listed as a way to acknowledge their contribution to the cultural history of Mali.
"Koronoko" is a celebration of Malian culture and the power of music as a tool for social change. Traoré pays homage to the women who broke the societal barriers and paved the way for future generations of Malian female artists. The song is a stirring tribute to a forgotten part of Mali's cultural history.
Line by Line Meaning
Koda koma tén
The night is dark
Korônokô
Koronoko (a place or person, could be a reference to the novel the song is named after)
Komounou mankan ni youlou da i bè korônokô
Nothing moves, except for the wind in Koronoko
Koda koma
The night is dark
Komounou mankan
Nothing moves
Ka noulou da ka korônokô
Only Koronoko is awake
Tén tè korôdilan
The eyes of the leopard
Ko mousso bèni
The woman is blessed
Mousso yé tén
She alone can see
Amana fô ko
She has the gift
Mousso ba kôrô ou kabô
The woman speaks the truth
I manata moussoni kolo ou labô
She knows the song of the snake
Mousso ni kolo ti
The woman and the snake
Mousso ba kôrô dioyôrô fa
The woman speaks the language of the spirits
I yé korônokô
She is in Koronoko
Na ouma moussobakôrô wélé
I am the guardian of the wise woman
Nazarakan fôla dé biè ti kodon na
Give me the medicine to heal my people
A manafô ko kodon na ou kè bô
I cannot cure without medicine
I manata kounfi kôrô ou labô
He knows the secrets of the spirits
Oulou ti mâ lamè ou tè yinikan
The one who drinks the water must also dance
Maya doun yé déké dékeni déké déyé dowbè
Let the music continue day and night
Djon si kélén tè kobè don
The young woman's waist is the drum
Ouhou koronoko
In Koronoko
Na ouma tchèbakôrô ou wélé tén tè korôdilan
I am the guardian of the wise woman, the eyes of the leopard
A mana niakami
I have my guitar
An ga tchè ou wélé sa
I will play for you
Ou ka sèbènôkan fô
You are welcome
Kodon tchè ou yo
Your music
An ga mousso ou wélé
I will sing for the woman
Kodon mousso ou yo
Her song
Ko na ti niènèbô
We are one
Aou yé tchè ou wélé sa
You are the one I play for
Ko don tchè ou yo
Your dance
Aou yé Balla wélé
You are Balla's (a name) wife
A ka sèbènôkan fô
You are welcome
Dianguina Mousso
Wise woman
Fô naou yé Balla wélé
You are Balla's wife
Dianguina Mahamadou ko
Wise Mahamadou
Kaou ka Balla wélé
Is Balla's wife
Dossolo Moussa
Moussa Dossolo
Fôna ou yé Balla wélé
You are Balla's wife
Dianguina Fatoumata ko
Wise Fatoumata
Ka ou yé Balla wélé
Are you Balla's wife?
Fatouma Moussa
Moussa Fatouma
A ou yé Balla wélé
You are Balla's wife
Ténin Sôfin Moussa
Moussa Ténin Sôfin
Niangarô ka Moussa
Moussa Niangarô
Ténin Matta ka Moussa
Moussa Ténin Matta
Sissama ka Moussa
Moussa Sissama
Fanta Bandjo ka Moussa
Moussa Fanta Bandjo
Djanguina Youssou ko
Wise Youssou
Ko kaou ka Balla wélé
Are you Balla's wife?
Doussou Coulibaly ka Moussa
Moussa Doussou Coulibaly
Basétou Moussa... ah ! Balla
Basétou Moussa... ah! Balla
Contributed by Daniel B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Loc Nguyen
on Laidu
What is the translation for the lyrics