Djilly Kawral (Love & Peace) - Malian Fulbé Singer Inna Baba Coulibaly’s Transcendent Revival

Beloved Malian Fulbé singer Inna Baba Coulibaly will release her long-awaited album, Djilly Kawral on May 5th, 2023.

Born and raised in the district of Nara, a cultural melting pot that borders Mauritania in the Koulikoro region of Mali, Inna Baba's new album is a synthesis of the rich cultural heritage of the Fulbé, Soninke, Bamanan, and Moor communities that have lived there since the time of the Wagadou Empire (4th century).

Inna Baba says she doesn’t write her songs, but rather, she serves as a vessel through which they emerge, spontaneously channeled from a deeper source and taking form through her authentic, evocative voice.

While Inna Baba's musical talent has earned her a devoted following and widespread admiration, it's her otherworldly, transcendent quality that has elevated her to a revered status in Mali and the diaspora. Inna Baba is best known for her tribute to the late Marabout saint "Sidi Modibo," who is venerated in Mali for his teachings, spiritual wisdom, and ability to perform miracles.

Inna Baba recounts, “As a child in my village, I loved to sing with my friends under the moonlight. I got married at a young age, and my family forbade me to sing. Musicians were discouraged there. One day, the commandant of Dilly came to our village and ordered us to participate in the festival of independence. With so few musicians, I was chosen by the village to participate. Accompanied by my uncle on violin, my song won first place and became known throughout Mali.”

In the mid-1970s, Inna Baba moved to Bamako to hone her musicianship. She frequented Amadou Djeliba's home, a renowned ngoni player, and was captivated by his performances. Ali Farka Touré often joined in on guitar. These influential artists motivated Inna Baba to pursue a solo career, and in March 1975, accompanied by Ali Farka Touré and Amadou Djeliba, she recorded her album, Sahel, in one day.

Inna Baba’s Djilly Kawral takes listeners on a journey through the traditional music of her community, showcasing the unique genre that accompanies every major event in a person's life. The album is a call for Love and Peace, covering a range of themes from family and community to spirituality and national pride. The album features the vibrant call and response vocal exchange between Inna Baba and her daughter Awa Poulo, the masterful ganbaré (Soninké lute) playing of Kandé Sissoko, the incomparable tambin (flute) playing of Madou Traoré, and the deep hoddu (Fulbe lute) grooves played by Modibo Sissoko, the son of the late 'Old Lion' Bazoumana Sissoko. The album also features the guitar, calabash, and the m'baggu, a Fulbé marching snare/drum that often accompanies the flute in ceremonies.

Embark on a jubilant musical journey through the vibrant cultural traditions of Inna Baba Coulibaly's treasured country with her highly anticipated album, Djilly Kawral(Love and Peace), set to release on May 5th, 2023.