Rokia Traoré - Malaian Contemporary Music

Rokia Traoré is a Malaian singer, song-writer and guitarist. She was born in 1974 in the Bambara ethnic group. Her father was a diplomat, thus enabling her to 'get around' quite a bit, due to his work. She always used to sing and when her father was stationed in Brussels she began to perform publically. She was given an award by Radio France as 'African Discovery of the Year' in 1997.

Unfortunately there's no streaming media online, to be linked here, you will have to browse her official website. There are some samples, sadly no complete songs. But then, buying albums like these is never bad and you will support actual musicians.

official website

Mali: Toumani Diabaté

Toumani Diabaté (born August 10, 1965) is a Malian kora player who has gained international acclaim for his music. He is considered by many to be the world's finest kora player. He is a versatile performer, being equally at home with the traditional music of Mali as well as with cross-cultural collaborations with flamenco, blues, jazz, and other international styles. He comes from a long family tradition of kora players including his father, Sidiki Diabaté, who recorded the first ever kora album in 1970.

Diabaté live at Sziget Festival (Hungary)
More music here, fly feature.