Guitar

[bops]

I noticed one of our new forum members plays guitar, so I thought I would come up with a list of West African guitarists that I recommend checking out, if you dig guitar music.

Ali Farka Touré
Salif Keita
Habib Koite
Boubacar "Kar Kar" Traore
Lobi Traore
Zani Diabate
Sekouba Bambino
Vieux Farka Touré
Sekou "Bembeya" Diabate, aka Diamond Fingers (Bembeya Jazz)
Barthelemy Attisso (Orchestra Baobab)
Djelimady Tounkara (Super Rail Band)
Kasse Mady Diabate
Bouba Sacko
Baaba Maal
Mansour Seck (Baaba Maal)

Most of these guys are from Mali, Guinea and Senegal. There are many, many others, that aren't listed here. I didn't even get into High Life, Juju, Afrobeat, Soukous, etc.

Feel free to add to the list.

[e2c]

I love Djelimady Tounkara's playing - ever heard the opening cut on Kandia Kouyate's CD Biriko? He plays a killer acoustic solo on that...

[Legba]

WOW, thanks.

[the kid]

For all the pluckers

[bops]

A few I missed:

Amadou & Mariam
I prefer them live, without the Manu Chau production effects, but hey, what can you do? They've achieved commercial stardom as a result. That's cool.

Manfila Kanté (Les Ambassadeurs Internationaux):


Some awesome Zani Diabate action:

[Nodrog]

Hi there,
Some amazing playing here on both guitar and bass.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=epa7EfRXVk0

[Nodrog]

And here is another track with some great soukos style guitarin'.

Gordon. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uV55s5cXNS0

[Nodrog]

Hi there,

Has anyone heard of a young guy from Washington state called Don Keller I think. He has taught himself to play soukous guitar style in the style of Johnny Bokelo and he is great.

Here is a video I found of him on youtube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6K4MJr_jmI

Enjoy, Gordon.

[the kid]

Issa Bamba singing a track by Abdoulaye Diabate with support on guitar and drums by Ablo Kabore, Fassirima Demble and others. Some sweet singing guitarin and drummin.

[bops]

Nice one Kid.... I wonder if that guitarist has played much with Zani Diabate. If I weren't looking at the video, I would have sworn it was Zani.

[the kid]

This must be some of the most interesting guitar work i've ever seen and heard. Beautiful.
Modibo Diabate - guitar solo
Mody Diabate - guitar
Bagaushu - n'goni
Cheick Niang - basso
Sidi Kone - djembe
Baba Diabate - calabasse
Drissa Kouyate - tama, karignan
Majali Drame - voice

[bops]

Interview with Vieux Farka Touré on French television
(in French)

[James]

This thread is awesome.

Really into Guitar stuff at the moment.

I can add:
Ousmane Kouyaté

[bops]

Really into Guitar stuff at the moment.

You're gonna love Mali.

I can add:
Ousmane Kouyaté

Nice, thanks James. Where can I hear his stuff? Does he play with a singer?