Rokia Traoré - Zen - LIVE at Afrikafestival Hertme 2017

Performance 1 July 2017
In all her six albums, Rokia Traoré experiments with all kinds of music styles while at the same time keeping in touch with the cultural treasures of Africa. Due to the fact that she has lived in Europe, the Middle East and the US during her youth, she has been exposed to a wide variety of influences. She hears a completely unusual sound palette, proving in an impressive way that Africa has many faces, that modernity and sense of tradition are not contradictory to each other. Her trademark is the combination of African rhythm with European songwriting. Conventional African rhythms will never be heard of her. She says, "That's what other musicians can do much better. There's the Wassoulou style of Oumou Sangaré, the mandingo world of Salif Keita, the griot music that I love that I respect but I do not want to copy. Music is contemporary. I'm a new generation and have a new look at Africa and our music.

In 2009, Rokia decided to return to Bamako with her son. Three years later, she was frightened by war and violence. She felt threatened as a female musician in her existence and temporarily moved to Europe. In her latest CD Né So ('home') she describes her nearly 20 year-old musical path, her struggle with personal problems, which made them think about stopping music. She tells us the story of the world and human condition in all its complex and beautiful diversity.