Songhoy Blues

Desert blues band Songhoy Blues grew out of political anger and civil unrest, with themes in their music inspired by their life experiences of being pushed out of their hometowns in North Mali by a jihadist group. They aim to capture the spirit of northern Mali in their energetic performances and on albums like their 2015 debut, Music in Exile, and 2020's harder-rocking Optimisme. Formed in 2012 at university in Bamako, Mali by Oumar Touré, Aliou Touré, and Garba Touré, Songhoy Blues was borne of frustration with the unrest in the north of Mali, which had forced them to seek ...