Mouneïssa by Rokia Traoré

Mouneïssa is the 1998, first international CD release from Malian singer/songwriter Rokia Traoré. Its release followed a time of meeting with and guidance from Ali Farka Touré, as well as the support of La Maison de la Culture d’Amiens pour Label Bleu, fr:Label Bleu which produced the record for the Indigo label. The record is very traditional in its musicality and lyricism and touches upon many folk elements of the Malian people.Coming from a long history of Malian musicians, Rokia is able to combine poetic metaphor with the different musical elements of her country. For the first time, the balaba (the large balafon of her region, has been paired with the ngoni (instrument) (the instrument favored by Bambara griots).