Afel Bocoum and SAZ

A Mwldan / i4Africa Co-production

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.

SAZ is a captivating Rajasthani folk music trio, hailing from the Langa community in the deserts of Western Rajasthan, India. Trained in a vast, centuries-old repertoire passed down through generations, SAZ passionately preserves these traditional roots. They fuse this deep heritage with global experience, having performed from Jodhpur to Budapest and the Lincoln Center in New York. This trio offers a vibrant, evolving sound that is the very lifeblood of their community, bringing the rich musical tapestry of Rajasthan to Glasgow.