Vieux Farka Touré

Dazzling guitarist | Oslojazz 2024

On Thursday, August 15th, the audience will have the opportunity to experience the rich desert blues from Mali with the dazzling guitarist Vieux Farka Touré - at the peak of his career! Touré has embarked on a musical journey, culminating at the very origins with the album Les Racines, meaning "The Roots."

With this album, Touré embraces the legacy of his father, Ali Farka Touré, and the traditional Songhai music from northern Mali that Touré senior made world-famous. This paternal heritage was also explored further with the album Ali released in 2022, where Vieux, along with the star trio Khruangbin, interprets some of Touré senior's most famous songs.

Les Racines also represents a cyclical story in terms of the choice of record label, as World Circuit was the company Ali Farka Touré was associated with from 1988 until the end of his career. "It is important for me and the Malian people that we stay connected to our roots and our history," Vieux has stated in relation to the recording of the album.

Vieux Farka Touré last visited Cosmopolite in 2016 to thunderous applause, and we are greatly looking forward to experiencing him and his band in top form on the same stage at this year's Oslo Jazz Festival!

Vieux Farka Touré - guitar, Ousmane Dagno - ngoni, Marshall Henry – bass, Adama Kone – drums and calabash

Concert starts: 20.00

Doors: 19.00

Photo: Kiss Diouara