Bowmboï

Artist: Rokia Traoré
Label: Nonesuch
Category: Music

Average customer rating:

Media: Audio CD
Number Of Discs: 1

UPC: 075597985221
EAN: 0075597985221
ASIN: B0002M5T9I

Release Date: 2004-08-31

Related Categories:

General

| Africa | International | Styles | Music

Mali

| Africa | International | Styles | Music

General

| International | Styles | Music

General

| New Age | Styles | Music

General

| Pop | Styles | Music

Listmania:

World Music, Folk Music, International Music, whatever!
The Sounds of Africa
Musical Oxygen: Africa and beyond
World Music Vibes
Best of 2004 (pt. one)
Music To Get You Through the Post-Election Blues

Tracks:

M'Bifo
Sara
Kote Don
Mariama
Manian
Deli
Nienafing
Kele Mandi
Kanou
Bowmboi

Similar Items:

Wanita
Moffou
Amassakoul
Muso Ko
Macire

Customer Reviews:

Exquisite.......2007-03-14

As someone who grew up in Africa, I find this CD one of the best in a long time. I also have "Wanita" by the same artist, but I have not been able to stop listening to "Bowmboi" since I got it. The first track "M'Bifo" is beautiful, but the last track "Bowmboi" is exquisite. Now I have to admit that I ordered the current CD after reading about it on th Kronos Quartet website, but hey, African music does not belong in a museum. It has to evolve, like any genre of music.

what a voice!.......2007-01-13

This woman has an amazing voice. I do not speak her language but do not need to. Her music speaks for itself. Deeply spiritual.

Malian Magic........2006-05-21

A mix of haunting, sad music with some faster, upbeat compositions. Some will find the album a lot different in style from Rokia's earlier two, although it is just the emphasis that has changed, as there was some hauntingly beautiful tracks on the Mouneissa album with even more on Wanita (Souba and Wanita)- the trend culminating in Bowmboi. The mix of traditional musical instruments of the region together with the Kronos Quartet gives the listener a sense of yearning or longing. Not the 'normal' Malian music - but more a thought-provoking collection of compositions. I would strongly suggest that you take the time to read the words of the songs when you listen to the music, as it is the mix of the two that makes the real impact. Rokia is not afraid to question traditional standards, the words adding substance to the music. For a more 'traditional' sound, there is an extra track at the end of the album - a bonus! The tracks are sung in Bamanan. I've already put an order in for her next album - I hope I don't have to wait too long! Merci Rokia.

Incredible!.......2005-12-04

Rokia Traore is, among many other things, perhaps the epitome of female beauty, both inside and out. She's gentle, funny, graceful and breathtakingly beautiful, and her music is the same. This record is sensual and mature, pulling on her musical roots but pushing on musical boundaries. Fans of African music will not be displeased, and fans of American songstresses (from Ella Fitzgerald to Norah Jones) will be enchanted. Rokia is a true heroine of modern world music, and, with this album, takes her place as a queen of the genre, breaking down a path that some of her male compatriots haven't even dared to tread.

Depth of Emotion.......2005-06-28

Most westerners who respond to African music are drawn by the infectious, joyful, hooky percussion. If that is the case, I would suggest looking elsewhere first. Make no mistake, those fabulous polyrhythms are part of this project. But this is not your standard "let's party" African disc. It is a mature work by a mature artist, running the gamut of the emotional spectrum. While it is often joyous, it is just as frequently dark, moody, and atmospheric, as likely to make you pause in melancholic nostalgia for a lost love as move your hips with exultation.

I am not sufficiently knowledgable of Malian music to state how traditional it actually is. (She actually brought Laurie Anderson to mind upon occasion.) The instrumentation, other than the tasteful, sparse introduction of a string quartet on some songs, is wholly of traditional regional instruments. She sings in her native tongue about things that are obviously of importance to her. While her voice is occasionally imperfect from a technical standpoint, it is laden with passion, and her vocals, especially the divine harmonies, are human and moving. Coupled with the unpredictable cadence and placement of her melodies, she fuses wonderfully with the music. I can't remember the last time I played a disc repeatedly as I have this one. It is a wonderful reminder to those of us in the west who have grown jaded by the sounds of teenagers pounding out predictable progressions with bar chords that there really are approaches to music that are entirely unexplored by us.

I have no reservations about recommending this disc. But make sure you know what you're getting into. If you're looking for a purely feel-good project, I would look elsewhere. But if you're looking for something with pathos and emotional range, I would give this a listen.

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