Boubacar Traoré

Boubacar Traoré is one of those rare artists who reflect the history of a country and the hopes and despairs of its people. In the sixties, the people of Mali awoke each morning to the sound of Boubacar Traoré’s melancholy voice on the radio. It sang of independence. Known fondly as Kar Kar, he was called “black jacket” and every person in Mali of his generation remembers having danced to his big hit, the “Mali Twist”. He was the Chuck Berry, the Elvis Presley of Mali. After a twenty-year absence from the stage, Boubacar Traoré was convinced to return to the studio. Kar-Kar is back - and making wonderful music (and recordings) as if he never left.

“Boubacar Traoré is a revelation... a plaintive evocative voice which stretches and climbs over threads of guitar melody”
— The Guardian (UK)