Talking Timbuktu

Talking Timbuktu
Studio album by
ReleasedMarch 29, 1994
RecordedSep 1993
GenreMalian folk, hip hop
Length59:59
LabelWorld Circuit
ProducerRy Cooder
Ali Farka Touré with Ry Cooder chronology
The Source
(1993)
Talking Timbuktu
(1994)
Radio Mali
(1996)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Music Week[2]

Talking Timbuktu is the 1994 collaboration album between Malian guitarist Ali Farka Touré and American guitarist/producer Ry Cooder. The guitar riff from the song "Diaraby" was selected for the Geo-quiz segment of The World PRI-BBC radio program and was retained by popular demand when put to a vote by the listeners. In 2009, the album was awarded a gold certification from the Independent Music Companies Association which indicated sales of at least 100,000 copies throughout Europe.[3]

Reception

The album features in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die and received the Grammy Award for Best World Music album of 1994.

Track listing

  1. "Bonde" (Peul) – 5:28
  2. "Soukora" (Bambara) – 6:05
  3. "Gomni" (Songhai) – 7:00
  4. "Sega" (Peul) – 3:10
  5. "Amandrai" (Tamasheck) – 9:22
  6. "Lasidan" (Bambara) – 6:06
  7. "Keito" (Songhai) – 5:42
  8. "Banga" (Songhai) – 2:32
  9. "Ai Du" (Songhai) – 7:09
  10. "Diaraby" (Bambara) – 7:25

(Languages listed in parentheses after each title, as credited in the album liner notes[4])

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States 238,000[5]

References

  1. ^ Talking Timbuktu at AllMusic
  2. ^ Jones, Alan (April 2, 1994). "Market Preview: Mainstream - Albums" (PDF). Music Week. p. 13. Retrieved April 28, 2025.
  3. ^ "color". www.impalamusic.org. Archived from the original on August 24, 2017.
  4. ^ "Ali Farka Toure With Ry Cooder – Talking Timbuktu". Discogs. Retrieved July 19, 2024.
  5. ^ "World's greatest". Billboard. June 16, 2007. Retrieved April 28, 2018.