Celebrated Malian songwriter and guitarist Afel Bocoum  released his long awaited new studio album ‘Lindé’ through World Circuit Records.
Damon Albarn, who acts as executive producer on the record alongside World Circuit’s Nick Gold, shared his thoughts: “Afel’s voice is one of the treasures of Mali, and this record is a gift to us all.”
Named after the wild expanse near Bocoum’s hometown of Niafunké, ‘Lindé’ is a remarkable blend of deep tradition and audacious innovation. The album was recorded in Mali’s capital Bamako, and stitches together the age-old music of the Niger bend with styles from across the globe, boasting performances from a number of eminent Malian musicians including Madou Kouyaté, the late ‘Hama’ Sankaré and Madou Sidiki Diabaté, along with the drums of recently-departed Afrobeat pioneer Tony Allen, the trombone of Vin Gordon (Bob Marley / Skatalites) and the violin of Joan as Police Woman.
Traditional instruments like the ngoni, njurkele, kora and calabash blend with guitars, percussion and call-and-response vocals. The result is a gently undulating flow that emanates from a source hidden deep in the historical and mystical traditions of Bocoum’s native land, enriched along its way by musical tributaries and cross-currents. It’s music that rolls rather than rocks, graceful, unforced and minimal by design.

The idea of releasing his own music arose from a gentle curiosity rather than any self-serving ambition or desire to upstage his mentor. “Everybody seemed to be releasing albums all around me, so it was like, ‘why not?’” he says. Ali Farka Touré promised to talk to Nick Gold, artistic director of World Circuit. ‘Alkibar’ (meaning “The Messengers”) the resulting 1999 debut album, established Afel Bocoum as an international star in his own right. Thanks to the album’s success, Afel was invited to work with Damon Albarn and Toumani Diabaté on the 2002 album ‘Mali Music’. He went on to become a regular contributor to Africa Express and to collaborate with the likes of Béla Fleck, Habib Koité, Tartit Ensemble, Oliver Mutukudzi, and many more. “You have to collaborate, otherwise you’ll get nowhere in today’s world,” Afel says. “All those collaborations were positive.”