Ali Farka Touré

Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

Ali Farka Touré

Role / Field:

Pioneering Malian musician blending desert traditions with African-American blues.

Born:

1939-10-31

Died:

2006-03-07

Century / Era:

1939s Historical Era

Database Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Foundations

Ali Ibrahim "Ali Farka" Touré (31 October 1939 – 6 March 2006) was a Malian singer and multi-instrumentalist, and one of the African continent's most internationally renowned musicians. His music blends traditional Malian music and its derivative, African-American blues, and is considered a pioneer of African desert blues. Touré was ranked number 76 on Rolling Stone's list of "The 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time" and number 37 on Spin magazine's "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time". Some years after his death, a group of musicians playing in his style performed as the Ali Farka Touré Allstars (2012), and later the Ali Farka Touré Band (formed 2014).

Key Developments & Impact

Touré was born in 1939 in the village of Kanau, on the banks of the Niger River in Gourma-Rharous Cercle in the northwestern Malian region of Tombouctou. His family belonged to the Songhai community and moved to the nearby village of Niafunké when he was still an infant. His father died serving in the French Army in 1940. He was the tenth son of his mother but the only one to survive past infancy. "The name I was given was Ali Ibrahim, but it's a custom in Africa to give a child a strange nickname if you have had other...

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1939 (1939-10-31): Birth of Ali Farka Touré — Pioneering Malian musician blending desert traditions with African-American blues.
2. 1940: 1940 Milestone — His father died serving in the French Army in 1940.
3. 2006 (2006-03-07): Passing & Historical Legacy — Ali Farka Touré passed away on 2006-03-07, leaving an enduring historical legacy.
4. 2012: 2012 Milestone — Some years after his death, a group of musicians playing in his style performed as the Ali Farka Touré Allstars (2012), and later the Ali Farka Touré Band (formed 2014).

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Ali Farka Touré

True or False: “Ali Farka Touré's musical style is primarily rooted in the traditions of the Sahel region of West Africa.”

Answer (TRUE ⭕): While he incorporated African-American blues, his core sound is recognized as a pioneer of African desert blues, drawing heavily from Malian heritage.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

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• Alan Ayckbourn — Contemporary (Born in 1939) (1939): Prolific British playwright and director known for domestic farce and ensemble pieces.
• Albert Wendt — Contemporary (Born in 1939) (1939): Influential Samoan poet and writer, pivotal figure in Pacific literature in English.
• Aaron Spelling — Contemporary (Died in 2006) (2006): Pioneering American producer of hit TV series like Dynasty and Beverly Hills, 90210.
• Abu Musab al-Zarqawi — Contemporary (Died in 2006) (2006): Jordanian jihadist militant known for orchestrating violence in Iraq (1966–2006)
• Alexander Litvinenko — Contemporary (Died in 2006) (2006): Russian defector and critic of the Kremlin, known for exposing state corruption.
• Adolf von Baeyer — Shared historical date (10-31 · Born) (1835): Pioneering German chemist known for indigo synthesis and IUPAC nomenclature.
• Alexander Alekhine — Shared historical date (10-31 · Born) (1892): A celebrated Russian-French chess master and four-time World Champion.
• Akseli Gallen-Kallela — Shared historical date (03-07 · Died) (1931): Leading Finnish painter and pioneer of national romantic art, famed for the Kalevala.
• Al Waleed bin Talal Al Saud — Shared historical date (03-07 · Born) (1955): Saudi billionaire, investor, and influential member of the House of Saud.
• 1939 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1939
• October 31 (10-31) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on October 31
• 2006 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 2006
• March 7 (03-07) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on March 7

Frequently Asked Questions about Ali Farka Touré