Main content

Mali - Bambara Blues

Marking the 200th anniversary of the abolition in Britain of the transatlantic slave trade. Lucy Duran uncovers links between the music of the Niger River and the blues of the southern USA.

Bambara Blues: on the 200th anniversary of the abolition in Britain of the transatlantic slave trade, Lucy Duran introduces a programme with music recorded entirely on location in Mali, telling the story of pre-colonial slavery in Africa, and uncovering a previously unknown link between the music around the Niger River and the blues of the southern states of America.

Readings are taken from Travels in the Interior of Africa by Mungo Park (Wordsworth Editions Ltd.) and read by Graeme Kay

Available now

1 hour

Last on

Sat 24 Mar 2007 15:00
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 3

More episodes

Previous

17/03/2007

Next

Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 3 Awards for World Music

See all episodes from World Routes

Music and featured items

  • Importance of the Niger river.

    Lucy describes the Niger river flowing and its importance in the history of Mali.

    Duration: 05:07

  • Music Played

    • Babani KonΓ©

      Solio

    • Babani Kone Band

      Everyone goes to Segou

  • Lucy talks about Bambara music.

    Lucy talks about Bambara music strangely resembling blues and banjo music.

    Duration: 02:36

  • Empire of Segou.

    Daouda Ballo talks about the history of the warrior Bambara empire of Segou.

    Duration: 12:10

  • Music Played

    • Bassekou KouyatΓ©

      Bajuru

  • Bassekou Kouyate.

    Lucy with Bassekou Kouyate at the grave of Da Monzon Jara.

    Duration: 08:10

  • Music Played

    • Bassekou KouyatΓ©

      Instrumental piece in honour of Da Monzon

    • Bassekou KouyatΓ©

      Da Monzon

  • The legend of Da Monzon

    Lucy with Daouda Ballo, talking about the legend of Da Monzon, the one-eyed king.

    Duration: 05:07

  • Bambara Empire mythology song

    Another beautiful song from Bambara Empire mythology.

    Duration: 04:26

  • Music Played

    • Babani KonΓ©

      Bambouguchi

  • Travels in the Interior of Africa.

    Another piece of reading taken from Travels in the Interior of Africa by Mungo Park.

    Duration: 12:38

  • Music Played

    • Bassekou KouyatΓ©

      Bambouguchi instrumental

    • Bassekou KouyatΓ©

      Poi

  • Describing the slave trade.

    A piece of reading describing the slave trade taken from Travels in the Interior of Africa

    Duration: 03:39

  • Music Played

    • Babani Kone group

      Kiri te massa nemache

  • Lucy with Dauda Ballo.

    Lucy with Dauda Ballo on the key side of Segou by the Niger river.

    Duration: 08:19

  • Music Played

    • Babani KonΓ©

      Everyone goes to Segou

Broadcast

  • Sat 24 Mar 2007 15:00
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 3

Featured in...