Vieux Farka Touré

Concert Details

Often called “the Hendrix of the Sahara,” Vieux Farka Touré was born in Niafunké, Mali, in 1981. He is the son of legendary Malian guitar player Ali Farka Touré, who died in 2006.

Touré was initially a drummer and calabash player at Mali’s Institut National des Arts de Bamako, but he secretly began playing guitar in 2001. He is known for dazzling crowds with his speed and dexterity on the guitar and for his palpable charisma and luminous smile—both of which captivate audiences despite any language barriers. (Though he does speak eight languages.) With each new project, Touré broadens his horizons, embraces new challenges, and further entrenches his reputation as one of the world’s most talented and innovative musicians.