It’s a voice that soars – pure, clear and true — above bass and synths, traditional percussion and infectious Mande guitar grooves. A stop-you-in-your-tracks voice instantly familiar to anyone in Mali, West Africa: Rokia Koné, aka the Rose of Bamako.
The young Rokia headed to Bamako, becoming a backing singer for Alia Coulibaly, one of Mali’s biggest stars, then quickly earned top billing as a solo artist in her own right.
In 2016 she caught the attention of Valérie Malot, founder of renowned French booking agency 3D Family, who invited her to join feminist supergroup Les Amazones d’Afrique and make her debut on an international stage.
In 2022, Rokia released her debut album BAMANAN, a collaboration with Irish-born, California-based rock producer Jacknife Lee (U2, R.E.M, Snow Patrol, The Killers).
One of Mali’s most beloved and dynamic artists, Koné is a force to be reckoned with. Her captivating performances in the city’s local maquis clubs very often last for hours, as Koné runs the gamut of emotion from joy to despair, fury to tenderness, wielding that astounding voice with grace and power.
More Camden Listings MORE
Alex Isley
Hailing from Los Angeles, Alex Isley comes from a musically rich and versatile family. Her maternal grandmother was…
The Blackbyrds
The iconic jazz-funk and R&B band formed as the protégées of legendary trumpeter Donald Byrd. Following two…
Fela Kuti’s Birthday
Fela’s former bandmate Bukky Leo assembles a group of London’s finest afrobeat musicians to honour the life and…
African political philosophy
This course is an introduction to African political philosophy.Over nine sessions we will engage with the discourse and…
Pete Rock
One of the most legendary figures in hip-hop history, Pete Rock returns to the capital for his biggest UK show on…
Nasty C
South African multi-platinum music sensation, Nasty C, has generated over 1 billion streams globally. Hailing from Durban,…
BLK Odyssy
BLK ODYSSY’s music is pushed by liberation, diving into his personal history as a Black musician and the…
Art in ancient and medieval Sahara
In this course we shall explore the Ancient and Medieval history of the Sahara and the Sahel, its…