Rokia Koné

BIO

One of Mali’s most beloved and dynamic artists, Rokia Koné is a force to be reckoned with.
She has a voice that soars – pure, clear and true — above infectious Mande guitar grooves and traditional percussion, and her captivating performances run the gamut of emotion from joy to despair, fury to tenderness, wielding that astounding voice with grace and power. Born and raised in Ségou, the cradle of the ancient Bamana kingdom, Rokia draws on a rich tradition of griot storytelling and has a deep connection with her Malian ancestry. Her unique abilities in melodic improvisation, honed over years of late-night residencies in the legendary music clubs of Bamako, have earned her a place as one of West Africa’s most exciting vocalists. In 2017 she joined the all-female music collective Les Amazones d’Afrique, who use music as a vehicle to campaign for gender equality in Africa.

Following the release of her widely-lauded debut album BAMANAN in collaboration with rock producer Jacknife Lee (U2, R.E.M., Taylor Swift) which brought her two All Africa Music Award nominations and The New York Times Critic’s Pick, now Rokia is putting her gritty, soaring, griot-infused vocals to Malian guitar and a West African percussive pulse. It’s the sound of an emerging legend replenishing her roots.