Bowmboï

• Artist: Rokia Traoré
• Rating:
• Release Date: August 31, 2004
• Type: Lyrics are included with the album
• Genre: World

Review

For her third outing, Rokia Traore refines the work on her first two discs. In other words, she's a Malian singer/songwriter, aware of her country's roots, but hardly bound by them. She's not a griotte, and she's not following in the Wassoulou footsteps of, say, Oumou Sangare. With a gentle, lulling voice and acoustic instrumentation she tells her tales. Even on the faster material, such as "Mariama," where she duets with Ousame Sacko, there's a mildness -- although it covers some steel. The true surprises here are the pair of cuts where she works with the Kronos Quartet, making for a combination that works far more effectively than anyone might expect. "Manian," for example, is string-heavy, but still utterly natural, and quite ineffably West African. Traore has become an accomplished writer, one whose reflective words and melodies seep into the brain and stay there. With this she's turned the corner to major international stardom. ~ Chris Nickson, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
M'Bifo	Rokia Traoré	Rokia Traoré	(6:15)
Sara	Rokia Traoré	Rokia Traoré	(5:57)
Kôté Don	Rokia Traoré	Rokia Traoré	(5:39)
Mariama	Rokia Traoré, Ousmane Sacko	Rokia Traoré	(5:37)
Manian	Rokia Traoré	Rokia Traoré	(6:04)
Déli	Rokia Traoré	Rokia Traoré	(6:01)
Niènafing	Rokia Traoré	Rokia Traoré	(3:38)
Kèlè Mandi	Rokia Traoré	Rokia Traoré	(4:09)
Kanou	Rokia Traoré	Rokia Traoré	(6:53)
Bowmboï	Rokia Traoré	Rokia Traoré	(9:56)

Credits

Jérôme Witz (Design), Rokia Traoré (Guitar (Acoustic)), Gilles Guerlet (Design), Ousmane Sacko (Vocals), Judith Sherman (Audio Production), Leslie Ann Jones (Audio Engineer), Baba Sissoko (Ngoma), Adama Coulibaly (Percussion), Rokia Traoré (Arranger), Andra Kouyate (N'Goni), Rokia Traoré (Vocals), Mark Willsher (Digital Editing), Jennifer Culp (Cello), Mahamane Diabate (N'Goni), Thomas Weill (Audio Production), Kronos Quartet (Strings), Andra Kouyate (Percussion), Frederick L. Thomas (Photography), Charlotte Dipanda (Vocals (Background)), Yves Wernert (Assistant), Andra Kouyate (Ngoma), Adama Diarra (Percussion), Andra Kouyate (Percussion), Djibril Camara (Bolon), Judith Sherman (Producer), Thomas Weill (Producer), Rokia Traoré (Guitar), Amada Diarra (Balafon), Leslie Ann Jones (String Engineer), Mamah Diabate (Ngoma), Ousmane Sacko (Vocals), Philippe Teissier Du Cros (Mixing), Rokia Traoré (Vocals (Background)), Rokia Traoré (Translation), Ballaké Sissoko (N'Goni), Hank Dutt (Viola), Stephen Prutsman (String Arrangements), Christophe "Disco" Minck (Bass), Philippe Teissier Du Cros (Engineer), David Harrington (Violin), John Sherba (Violin), Steve Shehan (Percussion), Christophe "Disco" Minck (Guitar), Sidiki Camara (Percussion), Tony Cousins (Mastering), Alou Coulibaly (Percussion), Philippe Teissier Du Cros (Audio Engineer)