Bassekou Kouyate and Ngoni Ba in Timbuktu

[Blkbanjoman]

Hip hop Universe! A rose by any other name would smell just as sweet!

[wahkeena]

AMAZING!!!

[MrHalohalo85]

Great video. I like this group, already got 2 of their albums. :)

BBC Africa, post some music videos from other parts of West Africa. The griots are not limited to Mali.

[tsumine]

@MrHalohalo85 Yeah me too!! I fell in love with them..!! :D



[mazambulla]

i like Fula music

[walliamdzi]

That wooden ball - whatever it is - is killing me. The sound is so amazing

[Max0Inq]

@walliamdzi It's gourd!

[nimashamsdotcom]

ABSOLUTELY AMAZING! Please come to Toronto for a concert!

[ethelwynkus]

Finally I get to hear how loud (quiet) the ngoni is. I want to learn all about this instrument.

[SizzleSuite]

They are rhythmically regal, ancient griot dynasty singing songs older then the pyramids on instruments created long ago and the ancestors of all western string instruments, banjo, guitar, violin, ukulele double bass etc etc.

seen them lots of times in london, they are awe inspiring.

long may they continue to touch people's hearts with their majestic music. you can really hear the roots of the blues throbbing away in their groove

[fiddlercrab3]

Anybody have a rough translation of the lyrics? It sounds like they're saying "Chango Veni" which reminds me of the traditional Cuban god, Chango, most likely carried over from Africa. Is this a song to Chango, or do I need to clean out my earwax?

[TheKopEnd011]

@fiddlercrab3 there singing juru nani which means play your four strings, the song is in praise of segu's most renowned warrior bakari jan kone.

[fiddlercrab3]

@TheKopEnd011 Thanks for the info!

[KATAO333]

@fiddlercrab3 Chango is not a part of the Pantheon of deties in Malian Culture, there belief system is pretty amazing and complex. Not to mention Timbuktu was a major learning center centuries ago!

[KATAO333]

@KATAO333 I should also add that I am refering to pre Islam which is the current dominant religion of Mali.

[daffdramera]

nice job guys awsome

[monamcneil]

Saw them last night in Portland Oregon, ecstatic music, engaging, world-class musicians.  See them if you can.

[tomusicpix]

What a great clip! Thanks for recording and posting this. So different from a typical Bassekou/Ngoni Ba performance. (I've only seen them once, and they were spectacular! But this gives a different flavour of their music).

[Onegurrrlrev]

I can totally bellydance to this. :) I LOVE this woman's voice.

Going to see them in Central Park in July. NEW YORK, NEW YORK!

[tombouctou1]

This video was recorded on the terrace of my hotel in Timbuktu, one block from the Peace Monument. I had filmed the group in 2007 in Essakane, so I recognized Bassekou when he entered and asked if they could have breakfast. He came back with his wife Amy Sacko, the lead singer.

Soon after, they came back with the BBC and filmed this clip on the upstairs terrace of the Hotel Camping Touareg which I was about to sell but now I don't know since it has become a celebrity spot.......

[sytraxiplague]

Just saw these guys live 20 minutes ago! Amazing musicians. Such emotion!

[AmaoNoBolso]

salutations du canada. Votre musique me donne des frissons

[Mr123abvgh796569]

does anyone know what instrument the drummer is playing?

[junk4dimeji]

I don't know if its the kora but its very identical. Its looks like what Toumani uses.

The traditional string instrument made of wood or calabash with animal skin stretched across it was always played sitting down on stage.

Bassekou and his band changed that, strapping the Ngonis over their shoulders like guitars and bringing the instruments to the front of the stage.

[malila85]

@Mr123abvgh796569

its called a calabash:)

[brandonterzic]

@Mr123abvgh796569 calabash  its a gourd

[stopmessing1]

wow this isnt bad i heard them on an NPR story......