Draft:Rokia Koné

Rokia Koné
Also known as	The Rose of Bamako
Born	(1984-01-01) January 1, 1984 Dioro, Mali
Origin	Segou, Bamako
Genres	African music, world music
Discography	https://www.rokiakone.com/
Years active	2014-present
Labels	Real World Records
Formerly of	Les Amazones d'Afrique
Website	https://www.rokiakone.com/

Rokia Koné, also known as The Rose of Bamako, is a Malian singer born in 1984 near Dioro, in Mali. She is one of the most dynamic artist of Mali and part of the feminist supergroup Les Amazones d'Afrique..

Early Life

Rokia Koné was born on January 1st, 1984 in Mali. Her family was composed of many singers, including her aunts and uncles. She spent her childhoohd singing her grandmother's song. Always surrounded by this art, music was the evident choice of carrier for her.

Career

Beginings

Koné started her career in Bamako, as a backing singer for Alia Coulibaly, one of Mali's most recognised artist. She quickly went solo and started her own musical path.

Les Amazones d'Afrique

Rokia Koné played a key role in the West African collective Les Amazones d’Afrique, alongside recognised singers like Mamani Keïta, Oumou Sangaré or Mariam Doumbia. Joining this feminist supergroup, created to promote gender equality and amplify women's voices through music, marked a turning point in her career.

In 2016, she caught the attention of Valérie Malot, founder of the French booking agency 3D Family, who invited her to join the group. Rokia Koné contributed significantly to their 2017 album République Amazone, particularly with the song “Mansa Soyari,” where she highlights influential female singers, subverting the traditional griot songs that focus on male heroes in Mali's history. One of the songs in this album was even chosen by Barack Obama as part of his favorite songs of 2017.

This collaboration enabled her to perform on international stages, including the British show Later… with Jools Holland in 2018, further solidifying her recognition beyond West Africa.

First album

BAMANAN is the debut album by Malian singer Rokia Koné, released in 2022. The album is the result of a collaboration with Jacknife Lee, an Irish-born, California-based producer known for his work with U2, R.E.M., Snow Patrol, and The Killers. It offers a bold and modern reinterpretation of traditional Malian sounds.

Born from unexpected circumstances and seized opportunities, BAMANAN was crafted between Bamako, Paris, and Mallorca during the global pandemic. Through this album, Rokia Koné pays homage to the Bambara people of southern Mali, celebrating their language, culture, and practices, while drawing inspiration from the tradition of hereditary griots—praise singers who are vital to the fabric of Malian society.

The album opens with a dramatic and nostalgic trilogy—“Anw Tile,” “Bambougou N’tji,” and “Soyi N’galanba”—that honors the great kings of Ségou’s past. In “Mansa Soyari,” a song originally composed for the collective Les Amazones d’Afrique, Koné shifts the focus to female heroines, such as singers Ramata Diakité and Fanta Damba, who inspired and guided their communities through their music, including Rokia herself.

Themes of hope and resilience run throughout the album. “Mayougouba” calls women and girls to the dance floor, celebrating their inherent perfection, while “Shezita,” “Kurunba,” and “Dunden” address challenges posed by close adversaries, such as disrespectful husbands, jealous co-wives, and gossipers, all while advocating for strength in adversity. On “Bi Ye Tulonba Ye,” Koné assumes the griot’s classic role as a bearer of advice, urging an end to conflict and a coming together for a great celebration.

The album’s most reflective moment, “N’yanyan,” based on an ancient song, acknowledges human frailty and the impermanence of difficulties. This poignant track was recorded in a single take on August 18, 2020, in Bamako, on the night of a coup d’état. The recording captures the uncertainty of the moment, as the city faced a looming curfew and power shutdown.

Musically, BAMANAN stands out for its integration of modern elements like drones and processed sounds, blended with vibrant guitars and dynamic percussion. Sountoucoumba “Salif” Koné’s delicate guitar flourishes add remarkable sensitivity, elevating the music’s soulful depth without overpowering it

With this album, Rokia Koné exceeds expectations, reimagining Malian sounds with groundbreaking creativity under the guidance of Jacknife Lee. Joyful and spiritual, BAMANAN is a remarkable work where tradition meets bold contemporary innovation, leaving a lasting impression.

Collaboration with Jacknife Lee

The collaboration between Malian singer Rokia Koné and Irish producer Jacknife Lee, known for his work with U2, R.E.M., and Taylor Swift, resulted in the creation of the album BAMANAN. This project bridges the ancestral musical traditions of Mali with modern production techniques, leveraging the resources of a studio in Topanga Canyon, California.

Jacknife Lee, known for large-scale productions, adopted a minimalist approach for this album, highlighting Rokia Koné’s powerful and nuanced voice. Every vocal detail was carefully preserved, showcasing the richness of Bambara music without compromising its authenticity.

Although the two artists never worked together in person, their collaboration was seamless. Jacknife Lee complemented Rokia’s compositions with modern arrangements, achieving a subtle balance between tradition and innovation.

For Rokia Koné, this collaboration brought a new dimension to her songs. Together, they avoided the clichés often associated with blending traditional and electronic music, creating an album that respects African roots while exploring new sonic territories.

Feminism

Rokia Koné’s music is deeply rooted in feminist advocacy, carrying forward the forthright message she shared with Les Amazones d’Afrique. Through her album BAMANAN, she addresses issues of gender inequality and amplifies the voices of women. Songs like “Mayougouba” celebrate women’s intrinsic worth with joyful calls to embrace their individuality: “Move, dance,” she sings, “You’re perfect as you are.” In “Kurunba,” Koné confronts societal injustices, using metaphor and symbolism to shed light on the plight of women cast aside in patriarchal traditions after fulfilling their roles as wives and mothers. The song recounts the story of a woman who overcomes isolation, turning the tables on those who wronged her, symbolically transforming them into animals and insects as a form of poetic justice.

Koné also reimagines “Mansa Soyari,” a song originally composed for Les Amazones d’Afrique, to celebrate female role models and assert the indispensable role of women in society, stating, “A country isn’t great without women”. Her lyrics consistently intertwine cultural depth with activism, addressing conjugal violence, lack of education for girls, and rivalries imposed by polygamy.

From her beginnings as a backing singer to her emergence as a solo artist and member of Les Amazones d’Afrique, Koné has used her platform to champion gender equality. She calls not only on women but also on men to engage in efforts that protect and uplift women, recognizing that true progress requires collective action. Through her powerful voice and poignant lyrics, Koné continues to inspire change and celebrate the resilience of women.