Rokia Koné

We’re sad to announce that, due to circumstances beyond her control, Rokia Koné’s UK tour has been cancelled.

It’s a voice that soars – pure, clear and true — above infectious Mandé guitar grooves. A stop-you-in-your-tracks voice instantly familiar to anyone in Mali, West Africa: Rokia Koné, aka the Rose of Bamako.

One of Mali’s most beloved and dynamic artists, Koné is a force to be reckoned with. Her captivating performances in the city’s local maquis clubs very often last for hours, as Koné runs the gamut of emotion from joy to despair, fury to tenderness, wielding that astounding voice with grace and power.

In 2016 she joined feminist supergroup Les Amazones d’Afrique, making her debut on the international stage, and visiting the Howard Assembly Room with the ensemble in 2018. In 2022, Rokia released her debut album BAMANAN, a collaboration with producer Jacknife Lee (U2, R.E.M, Snow Patrol, The Killers).

Part of Leeds Jazz Festival.