Legendary songwriter and guitarist Afel Bocoum hails from the town of Niafunké, on the banks of the Niger in the Timbuktu region of Mali. It’s a place famous for its ‘desert blues’, and for its other honoured son, the late, great desert blues pioneer Ali Farka Touré, whose band protégé Afel Bocoum joined at the age of 13, and with whom he performed extensively. Bocoum’s debut album Alkibar (1999) propelled him to international recognition with his own take on captivating desert blues with a twist, leading him to work with Damon Albarn & Toumani Diabaté amongst other luminaries. Afel Bocoum’s most recent album Lindé (2020) on World Circuit placed him in the top league of West African artists. Now here’s a rare chance to enjoy Afel Bocoum in the UK, performing as a trio.

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