Niafunké Explained

See also: Niafunké (album).

Niafunké
Settlement Type:Town
Pushpin Map:Mali
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Type1:Region
Subdivision Name1:Tombouctou
Subdivision Type2:Cercle
Subdivision Name2:Niafunké
Subdivision Type3:Commune
Subdivision Name3:Soboundou
Coordinates:15.9311°N -3.99°W

Niafunké is a small town on the Niger River in central Mali. The town is the administrative center (chef-lieu) of the commune of Soboundou in the Niafunké Cercle of the Tombouctou Region.

Niafunké was the hometown of musician and farmer Ali Farka Touré, who moved there as an infant and went on to become the town's mayor in 2004. He invested much of his music income in an irrigation scheme.[1] Niafunké is also the title of an album he recorded there in 1999.

Toure's son Vieux Farka Toure was also born in Niafunke.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Savage . Mark . How Khruangbin updated the music of Mali's maestro Ali Farka Touré . BBC.