Kandia Kouyaté never bothered to promote herself in the west because she didn’t need to. One of Mali’s finest singers, known as “la dangereuse” because of her effect on audiences, she was helped by wealthy patrons (one of whom made an aircraft available for her exclusive use), and she only agreed to record for the international market after years of pleading by the legendary producer Ibrahima Sylla. But after releasing just two studio albums, including the exquisite, acoustic Biriko, she suffered a stroke. Thankfully, she slowly recovered and now, 13 years on, comes the follow-up, completed after Sylla’s death with help from his daughter. Kouyaté is in commanding, majestic voice, whether backed by kora and balafon for a powerful song about faith and surviving her illness, or by electric guitar and percussion for a cheerfully slinky tribute to a patron. Welcome back.
