Afel Bocoum: The return of the messenger

Name: Afel Bocoum: The return of the messenger
Start: 2026-01-18T19:30:00+00:00
Location: Band on the Wall

Schedule

Sun, 18 Jan, 2026 at 07:30 pm

UTC+00:00

Location

Band on the Wall | Manchester, EN

For over three decades, legendary musician Afel Bocoum has been a guardian of Mali’s Niger River musical soul. A musical companion to Mali’s late great desert blues pioneer Ali Farka Touré, he launched a solo career with debut album in 1999, Alkibar (The Messenger), and gained international recognition through collaborations with Damon Albarn, including 2002’s Mali Music. Now, as one of the Sahel’s most beloved artists and ambassador for endangered instruments like the njurkel lute and njarka fiddle, Bocoum is set to release singles from his new album Harber in October 2025, accompanied by a 13-date UK tour in January 2026.
“Afel Bocoum’s consoling voice is a call for hope, unity, and togetherness. He offers us light and joy, distilling an energy that gives us goosebumps.”— Rolling Stone France on Lindé

“Afel is such a wonderful artist. I love everything he’s done.” – Damon Albarn