The huge name of the music of Mali, Vieux Farka Touré, will perform in Serbia for the first time, at the opening of the 11th World Music Festival Todo Mundo in Belgrade, at the Zappa Baza club, on September 21, 2023.
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It is not easy to be the son of a world-renowned musician, especially if there is a passion to follow the paths of one’s father’s profession. Such a fate befell Vieux Farka Touré, a guitarist, singer and composer from Mali who is building an international career with great success, at the same time pushing the boundaries of traditional West African music and deeply respecting the heritage and artistic expression of his father, the great Malian musician Ali Farka Touré (1939 – 2006).
Luckily for all world music and, especially, desert blues fans, Vieux Farka Touré (1981) when he was young he did not obey his father, but following his example, secretly turned to music and the guitar, practicing dedicatedly and progressing rapidly. Everything fell into place, so that Ali was even a guest on his son’s debut album “Vieux Farka Touré” (2006), making some of his last recordings in life.
In the following years, five more Vieux’s solo studio albums will follow: “Fondo” (2009), “The Secret” (2011), “Mon Pays” (2013), “Samba” (2017) and the latest “Les Racines” (2022) which brings Vieux’s deep connection again with the tradition of Songhai music from the north of Mali.
This longing for roots and history resulted in a series of ten original compositions, performed on traditional and modern instruments, focused on various topics such as mutual understanding and the togetherness of the people, devotion and fidelity, and love for family.
Although Vieux Farka Touré drew attention first as an outstanding guitarist – earning the appropriate badge “Hendrix of the Sahara” on the music scene – he soon developed into a complete musician, who is adorned with both recognizable vocals and inspired compositional work
He is constantly on tours and in interesting collaborations, and his performance at the opening ceremony of the FIFA World Cup in South Africa (2010) stands out as a particularly attractive moment in his career.
Vieux Farka Touré (photo: Kiss Diouara)
The music of Mali has been very popular all over the world for years, including in Serbia. So far, the Belgrade audience has had the opportunity to listen live to bands and artists such as Tinariwen, Tamikrest, Bassekou Kouyaté, Habib Koité, Afel Bocoum, Tartit, Ballaké Sissoko…
This fascinating list will also include Vieux Farka Touré, who will perform on September 21 in the Belgrade club Zappa Baza with his trio, which also includes Adama Koné (drums and calabash) and Marshall Henry (bass guitar).
After the concert of the Vieux Farka Touré’s trio, DJ Killo Killo, a well-known name on the local scene, will have his appropriate set, announcing that he will pay the most attention to the music of Africa.
Tickets can be purchased at the Zappa Bar club (Kralja Petra 41) and on the tickets.rs website at a price of RSD 1,500. A set of festival tickets (5 concerts and 1 DJ set) can be purchased at the price of RSD 3,000 via the tickets.rs website. Tickets can also be bought at the entrance, before the start of each concert evening.
The organizer of the Vieux Farka Touré’s concert, as well as the entire “Todo Mundo” festival, is the “Ring Ring” Association. The concert is realized with the support of the City of Belgrade.
Links:
Vieux Farka Touré Website ǀ VFT Facebook ǀ VFT Instagram ǀ VFT YouTube ǀ Todo Mundo Program 2023
