Rokia Traore' brings songs of Mali to Minnesota

by Dan Olson, Minnesota Public Radio

West African singer Rokia Traore' created quite a stir in her homeland of Mali. She shaved her head and sang in public about the plight of women. Traore's behavior was a huge break with tradition. In Mali, only select vocalists, mostly men, are allowed to perform. These days, Traore' tours the world and performs her blend of traditional and contemporary music to a growing audience of admirers. She performs Oct. 10 in Minneapolis.