Africa celebrates legendary Malian guitarist Ali Farka Toure

Ten years ago music legend and Malian guitarist, Ali Farka Toure, passed away but despite the loss his music still lives on.

A tribute concert and a football tournament were organised in Bamako at the weekend to pay homage to one of Africa’s renowned artists.

The Ali Farka Toure square, complete with his statue was inaugurated on Monday in honour of the two-time grammy winner.

Mali pays tribute to music star Ali Farka Toure on 10th anniversary of death: Bamako, March 8, 2016 (AFP) – Ma… https://t.co/IVsZTWJ3JD

— Watagwan Africa (@AfrikaInsider) March 8, 2016

One of his sons, Vieux Farka Toure; took after his father’s footsteps and says he will continue to live his father’s dream.

“Ali had a special way of playing which I adopted. Its the same way I play my songs, rock and roll, jazz or blues…am headed the same direction,” he said.

The country’s national museum also opened its doors to an exhibition of photographs of the life of the music icon.

“He found a way of communicating this traditional music outside of its tradition. So he kept true to the tradition but what he did was transpose the music to the western instrument, transpose traditional music and traditional guitar into western guitar and by that he sort of unlocked the secret and by that way everybody was able to share his music,” said his music producer Nick Gold.

Ali Farka Toure died at the age of 67, after a long battle with cancer.