Senegalese Ismaïla Touré, co-founder and member of the musical group Touré Kunda, a pioneer of African music in France in the late 1970s, has died, his family announced on Monday.
“Ismaïla died this morning, at the age of 73, following a long illness in Paris,” she wrote in a press release sent to AFP.
“He left an indelible mark on the world of music and culture. We are proud of his legacy and all the contributions he made throughout his life,” the statement continued.
The family, which calls for respect for his private life, specifies that “the details concerning the funeral will be communicated in due course”.
Created at the end of the 1970s and launched with the hit “E’Mma Africa” (1980), Touré Kunda, co-founded with his brother Sixu Tidiane, is an emblematic group of “world music”, a laboratory of interbreeding between traditional African music and more rock or jazz tones.
In total, they released over a dozen albums during their career and performed at festivals and concerts around the world. In France, they were invited to celebrate, with their music, major events, such as the re-election of President François Mitterrand (socialist).
“We have opened a grand boulevard! We have always been open to contributions from other musicians, whether French, African, West Indian, Mauritian or other”, said the two brothers in January 2018 in an interview with the French weekly. Sunday newspaper, on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of their career.
“Beyond her musical career, Ismaïla Touré (…) has worked to promote cultural diversity and intercultural dialogue, and has been a strong advocate for peace, social justice and equal opportunity” , greets his family.
“I am saddened to learn of the death of Ismaïla Touré, member of the legendary group Touré Kunda. It is a huge loss for Senegalese and African music,” Senegalese President Macky Sall reacted on Twitter.
