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.
Sabali
Rokia Traoré Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Doma sòn sonu doma ki'i sòn tafo; mandiya tafo
Mori ka nasi jogo nyuman de b'o daafa
Doma ka tafo jogo nyuman de b'o daafa
I jogo ladilan
Eee... bi maa tè hinè, bi maa tè nyuan fè
Muso ka furu kana tinyè i sigi o nòla
Cèba ka baara kana tinyè i sigi o nòla
Doma ye se n'aw ma tòto k'ola
Ala bè sanfè
I kèra setigi ye i miiri setan'w la
I kèra dentigi ye i miiri dentan'w la
I kèrè fèntigi ye i miiri fèntan'w la
N'ga ni'i se ko bè kè i to'i kòli ko ye
Ni maa'i se ko bè kè i to'i kòli ko ye
Wa ala bè sanfè
Ala bè sanfè
Ee sabali dè
Jòn'nin ka sabali dè dunya tè so ye
Ala bè sanfè
Ee sabali dè
Jòn'nin ka sabali dè, sabali ka dii
Ala bè sanfè.
The lyrics to Rokia Traoré's "Sabali" are primarily in Bambara language, and they speak about the importance of finding balance in our relationships with others and within ourselves. The opening lines say, "Our ancestors have always said, 'Don't forget where you come from.'" This reminds us of the importance of remembering our roots and staying connected to our culture and community. The next line, "The Mandingue don't forget," refers to the Mandingue people, who are known for their strong cultural traditions and values.
The refrain, "Ala bè sanfè," means "God, help us" and is a plea for guidance and support. The verses continue with references to the importance of balance - "Mori sòn wòri mori ki'i sòn nasi" means "A blacksmith doesn't forget his work, a fisherman doesn't forget his boat," which suggests that we must stay true to our skills and passions. "Muso ka furu kana tinyè i sigi o nòla" means "The hunter waits for his prey, the farmer waits for his crops," which demonstrates the importance of patience and perseverance.
The final lines of the song say, "Sabali dè, don't be in a hurry, because the world will turn." This reminds us that life is full of ups and downs, but if we remain patient and balanced, we can weather any storm.
Overall, "Sabali" is a beautiful song that speaks to the timeless theme of balance and the importance of staying connected to our roots and values.
Line by Line Meaning
Mori sòn wòri mori ki'i sòn nasi; mandiya nasi
My friend, I asked you and you didn't respond; I asked around
Doma sòn sonu doma ki'i sòn tafo; mandiya tafo
My spouse, I asked you and you didn't tell me; I asked around
Mori ka nasi jogo nyuman de b'o daafa
My friend, don't be in a hurry, everything will happen in its own time
Doma ka tafo jogo nyuman de b'o daafa
My spouse, don't worry, everything will happen in its own time
I jogo ladilan
You have the wisdom of patience
Eee... bi maa tè hinè, bi maa tè nyuan fè
It's not about what I have or don't have, it's about what I can give
Muso ka furu kana tinyè i sigi o nòla
The blacksmith makes sure the tools are sharp before starting to work
Cèba ka baara kana tinyè i sigi o nòla
The farmer makes sure the tools are sharp before starting to cultivate
Mori ye se, n'ga n'aw ma tòto k'ola
My friend, I know you are wise and respected
Doma ye se n'aw ma tòto k'ola
My spouse, you are wise and respected
Ala bè sanfè
God bless us
I kèra setigi ye i miiri setan'w la
You build a fence to protect your home
I kèra dentigi ye i miiri dentan'w la
You clean your home to keep it healthy
I kèrè fèntigi ye i miiri fèntan'w la
You repair the windows to keep your home safe
N'ga ni'i se ko bè kè i to'i kòli ko ye
I know you can handle any challenge that comes your way
Ni maa'i se ko bè kè i to'i kòli ko ye
You know you can handle any challenge that comes your way
Wa ala bè sanfè
May God bless us all
Ee sabali dè
Hold on to patience and resilience
Jòn'nin ka sabali dè dunya tè so ye
The world is full of challenges, but hold on to patience and resilience
Ala bè sanfè
God bless us
Ee sabali dè
Hold on to patience and resilience
Jòn'nin ka sabali dè, sabali ka dii
The world is full of challenges, but patience and resilience will help us overcome
Ala bè sanfè.
God bless us.
Writer(s): Damon Albarn, Marc-antoin Moreau, Maryam Doumbia
Contributed by Alexis F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@ninjaninna
I don't undestand Your words, but Your voice and this beautiful melodi just melt my heart and makes my spirit smile ❤💎😊
@lesekari
OH MY GOD!
@jalilafrican
Rokia Traore,,tres belle musique
@zulmamiranda
Las cosas maravillosas que he conseguido con esta cuarentena! Divina.
@kandjibadou3976
J adore Rokia Traoré . Une très belle voix du continent . Très belle chanson à faire fémir.
@manjujadhav2957
Ur voice is so melodious
@manjujadhav2957
I don't understand ur language but this music & ur voice is awesome
@abdoumanou4511
je suis vraiment d'accord et elle mérite tout.
@traoremaurice3202
slt roki tu es naturel et sa me plais je me rapel la fois ou on s est croisé a la gare du nord. a paris kel humble dame que tu es👍👍👍.
@sofetraore9280
Rokia c'est ma préférée