Afel Bocoum is among the last of a breakthrough generation of African musicians who cross-pollinated their own traditional music with the new sounds that arrived from all over the world throughout the 20th century. Hailing from Niafunké in Mali, an area that straddles the cultural riches and political tensions between the northern and southern areas of the country, Bocoum spent decades touring and recording with desert blues pioneer Ali Farka Touré. His debut album ‘Alkibar’ (1999, World Circuit) propelled him to international recognition, leading him to work with Damon Albarn & Toumani Diabaté on 2002’s Mali Music, as well as contributing regularly to the famed Africa Express projects, and collaborating with Bela Fleck, Habib Koité, and Tartit Ensemble among others. Lindé, named after the wild expanse near his hometown that he spent his childhood exploring, is a remarkable blend of deep tradition and audacious innovation. With the support of executive producers Damon Albarn & Nick Gold, Lindé stitches together the age-old music of the Niger bend, featuring performances from eminent Malian musicians including Madou Kouyaté, the late ‘Hama’ Sankaré and Madou Sidiki Diabaté, with interventions as diverse as the drums of Afrobeat pioneer Tony Allen, the trombone of Vin Gordon (Bob Marley / Skatellites), and the violin of Joan as Police Woman. Traditional instruments like the ngoni, the njurkele, the kora and the calabash blend with guitars, percussion and call-and-response vocals. The result is a gently undulating flow that emanates from a source hidden deep in the historical and mystical traditions of Bocoum’s native land, enriched along its way by tributaries and cross-currents. It’s music that rolls rather than rocks, graceful, unforced and minimal by design. It's also an album with a message – in the face of an uncertain and turbulent world, and a homeland struggling with jihad, poverty and tribal war, Afel Bocoum urges hope, solidarity and unity. “We have to meet each other, talk to each other, look each other in the eye and tell the truth,†Afel says. “Our social security is music. That’s all we’ve got left. People love music, so we have to make use of that fact.â€
Release date:
September 4, 2020
Label:
Install our app to receive notifications when new upcoming releases are added.

Recommended equipment and accessories
-
Technics SL-1500C Turntable
Features a direct-drive motor, a high-precision tonearm, and a premium MM cartridge, delivering exceptional sound quality
-
Cartridges - Top Picks
A selection of turnatble cartridges that provide great performance and sound quality
-
Denon DP-400
Featuring a high-precision, belt-driven mechanism and an adjustable tonearm that ensures optimal tracking and minimal resonance
-
Ortofon 2M Blue Premounted
Mounted on the SH-4 Black Headshell, this setup delivers exceptional clarity, dynamic range, and accurate sound reproduction.
-
Nobsound Little Bear T7 Tube Preamp
Delivers rich, warm audio through its high-quality vacuum tubes, featuring multiple inputs and adjustable gain
Featured Upcoming Vinyl
-
Metronomy Greatest Hits [2xLP]
Because Music
September 5, 2025 -
Ava Max Don't Click Play
Atlantic
August 22, 2025 -
Bitchin Bajas Inland See
Drag City
September 26, 2025 -
Scorpions From The First Sting [2xLP]
Bmg
September 26, 2025 -
The Warriors Burn Yourself Alive
Pure Noise Records
September 26, 2025 -
Restraining Order Future Fortune
Blue Grape Music
September 26, 2025 -
Hayes Carll We're Only Human
Hwy 87 Records
August 8, 2025 -
Fred Armisen 100 Sound Effects
Drag City
September 26, 2025 -
Runnner A Welcome Kind of Weakness (Blue)
Run For Cover
August 29, 2025 -
Internal Bleeding Settle All Scores
Maggot Stomp
October 17, 2025 -
Borracho Ouroboros
Ripple Music
August 8, 2025 -
James Yorkston Songs for Nina and Johanna
Domino Record Co
August 22, 2025 -
Celeste Woman Of Faces
Capitol
November 14, 2025 -
Arjen Anthony Lucassen Songs No One Will Hear [2xLP]
Inside Out Music
September 12, 2025