Saint-Louis · Music
The Kora, the Guitar and a Queen: Rokia Traoré Closes Au Tour des Cordes — See You in 2027
A great red boubou, a guitar, and thirty years of songs: on Saturday night, Rokia Traoré closed the 6th Au Tour des Cordes festival like a queen, on the stage of the Institut français in Saint-Louis. And the festival has already set its 7th edition: October 29 to 31, 2027.
Saint-Louis (Senegal), November 9, 2026. Some closings feel like coronations. On Saturday night, November 7, Rokia Traoré — Malian singer, songwriter and guitarist — delivered a performance worthy of her status as a great voice of Mali, before a crowd that packed the Institut français in Saint-Louis. Elegantly dressed in a great red boubou, guitar in hand, she presented her “Fifty-Fifty” project, which revisits Mandingo music with a touch of modernity, and got part of the room dancing.
The kora as heritage
Au Tour des Cordes is one man's festival: Ablaye Cissoko, Senegalese songwriter and kora virtuoso, is its promoter. The closing night had opened with the guitar of Portugal's Pedro Jóia, greeted by warm applause from a knowledgeable audience — before the Mandingo queen took the stage, celebrating, along the way, her 30 years of career.
See you in 2027
Before the show had even ended, the festival announced the dates of its 7th edition: October 29 to 31, 2027, in Saint-Louis. The strings have not finished vibrating on the banks of the Senegal River.
In practice
Festival : Au Tour des Cordes — Saint-Louis, Senegal (promoter: Ablaye Cissoko) · See the festival profile
6th edition : November 5 to 7, 2026 — closed by Rokia Traoré, “Fifty-Fifty” project
7th edition : October 29 to 31, 2027, in Saint-Louis
