It’s a lucky country whose railway company can afford this band! Formed in 1970 in Mali’s capital, Bamako, at a time of upheaval in the former colonies, the Rail Band combined African rhythms with West African styles and regularly wowed audiences as the house band at the station restaurant. The film »Le Mali 70«, released about a year ago, tells the story of the Berlin Omniversal Orchestra’s trip to Mali. It brings the magic of those years back to life. The Rail Band, later known as the Super Rail Band, plays a central role in the film and in Malian music history. The band’s second album, »Rail Band«, released in 1973, shows them at their best. It features the future world-famous soloist Salif Keita. While influences from the two Congos played a role, along with musicians such as Franco Luambo, Pepe Kallé, Tabu Ley Rochereau and others who reworked Cuban rhythms into their own form of rumba, it was the West African griot tradition that made the music of the Rail Band a unique and important contribution to popular music, not only in Africa.
Gnonnas Pedro
The Man Who Sings All African Languages
Nanga Boko