Song About His Country: Vieux Farka Touré and "Yer Gando"

Today's random tune is by Vieux Farka Touré. The son of the great Ali Farka Touré, Vieux Farka Touré is a Malian singer and guitarist. He first took up guitar in secret because his father disapproved and enrolled in the National Institute of the Arts in Bamako. He released his first album in 2005 after getting permission from his father and the great Malian musician Toumani Diabaté - they also agreed to be on the album. Vieux Farka Touré plays primarily Malian music, but has also collaborated with other musicians from around the world, including Idan Raichel of Israel and Julia Easterlin, a singer/songwriter from the United States. This song, Yer Gando, can be found on Touré's 2013 album Mon Pays.

Listen to songs like this and more on the KUNM Global Music Show every Monday night from 10 pm - 1 am Mountain Standard Time. Live streaming, program information and the two-week digital archive can be found at http://www.kunm.org.