About Us

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Boubacar Traoré carries within him all the beauty of African blues. A diamond among the jewels of Mandingo music, he shines with the dark glow of exceptional purity. Only the voice of "Kar Kar" (a footballing nickname meaning “The Dribbler” given him by his friends, who also love the beautiful game) can blend Niger and Mississippi river alluvia with such moving authenticity. His unique, inimitable, self-taught guitar technique owes a great deal to his kora influences, but its shades and phrasing also suggest the great black bluesmen of the deep South: Blind Willie McTell, Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters and others.

Boubacar Traoré is respected and acclaimed in Mali, especially by young people. They are rediscovering the artist, one of the founding fathers and great ambassadors of modern Mandingo music. When his international tours end, Kar Kar returns to the piece of land he has bought on a hill in Bamako. There, he raises sheep and works a vegetable plot, his pride and joy. “In Mali, everyone is a farmer. It’s the most reliable way of making a living."

The current line-up: 

Boubacar Traoré  guit, voc 

Vincent Bucher  harmonica 

Jeremie Diarra  perc

guests on request: Corey Harris & Cedric Watson

Discography 

« Tiékoro Ba Diougou » (2022) Hambe Productions Ségou /“Dounia Tabolo” (2017) / CD+Digital Lusafrica / “Mbalimaou” (2015) Lusafrica /“Mali Denhou” (2011) Lusafrica /“Kongo Magni” (2005) Marabi - Lusafrica /“Je Chanterai Pour Toi” (2002) Marabi- Lusafrica /„Maciré“ (1999) Label Bleu /„Sa Golo“ (1997) Label Bleu