Khaira Arby - gossip
Khaira Arby was one of the first women to break onto the music scene in Mali in the late 1970’s. Her powerful voice and dynamic stage presence endeared her immediately to audiences. Having won many awards including the prestigious Tamani d’Or [Golden Drum], Mali’s Grammy, Khaira has kept pushing the boundaries of her genre. Not content to stay locked into traditional griotte formats, her music has grown as she encounters other cultural influences.
Khaira Arby - gossip
photos: Chris Nolan
KHAIRA ARBY, legendary desert blues diva of Timbuktu, her fifth album, "gossip". One of the first women to break onto the music scene in Northern Mali in the late 1970s, her powerful voice endears her to worldwide audiences. Her music has grown from traditional griotte as she encounters other cultural influences. The female counterpart to Ali Farka Toure in the roots of American delta blues. During the recording of these tracks political and social conditions in Mali destabilized. Rebellion, coup d'état, corruption, invasion, fundamentalism, all influence Khaira and her band. Two songs, "Djamba" and "La Liberte," plead for tolerance and peace.
Genre: African Rock, Desert Blues, World Music
Tags: #female vocalist, #Songhoy, #Sahara Desert, #Azawad, #Khaira Arby, #Timbuktu, #Tombouctou, #Mali, #Africa, #Clermont Music
Catalog # CLE011 available on CD and digital
Reviews and Links
“Reflects the turbulent recent history of her [Arby’s] country and mirrors the complex mix of ethnicities and cultures that make up Mali today.”
The Guardian
“Gossip makes Khairy Arby’s honorary title "queen of the desert blues" completely true. “
Bas Springer - mixedworldmusic.com
"The strong compositions, the complex and rich interaction between the musicians and the special voice of Khaira Arby make of 'Gossip' an extremely interesting piece of work with exciting traditional music into a bold contemporary approach that builds bridges between generations and cultures." Oxfam-Wereldwinkel Brugge newsletter July, 2015