ROKIA TRAORÉ

Rokia Traoré is one of those artists who has completely changed the way we think about contemporary African music. Born in Mali in 1974, the vocalist, composer, and guitarist has been developing her own musical language for years – subtle, elegant, and deeply rooted in Bambara tradition, yet open to rock, blues, and modern sounds.

Although she comes from an aristocratic family, where public music wasn’t an obvious path, she chose music. As a young woman, she traveled extensively thanks to her diplomatic father, living in Algeria, Saudi Arabia, France, and Belgium, among other places. These experiences ensured that from the outset, her work was more than just a continuation of local traditions – it became a dialogue between West Africa and the rest of the world.

Her debut album, Mouneïssa (1996), created under the direction of the legendary Ali Farka Touré, launched her onto the international stage. Subsequent albums – Wanita, Bowmboï, Tchamantché, and Beautiful Africa – cemented her position as a universal artist, transcending genres and cultures. Her work has been recognized with numerous awards, including the BBC Radio 3 World Music Award, the Kora Award, and the Victoire de la Musique.

Rokia Traoré is not only an outstanding vocalist and composer, but also a director, performer, and activist. In 2006, in collaboration with Peter Sellars, she transformed Mozart into a 13th-century griot in the play Wati. In 2010, she portrayed Desdemona in a project co-produced with Toni Morrison. In 2015, she served on the jury of the 68th Cannes International Film Festival.

Her artistic journey was brutally interrupted by the events of 2019. As a result of a complex custody dispute, the Belgian justice system converted the charge of “failure to surrender a child” into one of “kidnapping and unlawful detention,” leading to the issuance of a European Arrest Warrant. She spent a total of over six months in European detention centers and prisons after being arrested in France, then Italy, and finally transferred to Belgium. The case sidelined her for many years. Only in January 2025 was her two-year prison sentence overturned, and Rokia regained her freedom. She chronicled her experiences in the book Je suis née libre (I Was Born Free), published in October 2025. It is a moving testimony to the fight for dignity, freedom, and the right to be a mother—without hatred, but with immense strength and courage. “I was born free. I am not a criminal. I am a mother,” the artist writes.

In 2026, Rokia Traoré returns to the stage with a new project, Fifty-Fifty, prepared thirty years after the release of her debut album. The concert program combines new compositions with interpretations of Mandé classics and songs from earlier albums. It is a unique musical tale of freedom, the meeting of cultures, and the power of survival.