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Vieux Farka Touré takes us to the sacred heart of rock ’n’ roll.

—The Arts Desk

Often called “the Hendrix of the Sahara,” Vieux Farka Touré was born in Niafunké, Mali, in 1981. He is the son of legendary Malian guitar player Ali Farka Touré, who died in 2006.

Vieux Farka Touré was initially a drummer and calabash player at Mali’s Institut National des Arts, but he secretly began playing guitar in 2001. He is known for dazzling crowds with his speed and dexterity on the guitar and for his palpable charisma and luminous smile—both of which captivate audiences despite any language barriers (though he does speak eight languages). Touré has established himself as one of the world’s rare musical talents and guitar virtuosos, and his distinct style pays homage to the past while looking toward the future.

In 2022, Touré released Les Racines, his debut album on the World Circuit label and his first record since 2017. The title, which translates in English as “the roots,” represents a deep reconnection with the Songhai music of northern Mali known as desert blues, made famous by Touré’s father decades earlier.