We need self-confidence in our ability to build Africa. I trust in Mali and I trust in music.

- Rokia Traore

When you are able to make a living with your job as an artist, that means you have an audience and you have to thank this audience.

- Rokia Traore

American audiences don't react in the same way as European ones to African music because, I think, Europeans listen to this music through all the fes…

- Rokia Traore

The interesting thing for me is to put together all my influences and all my experiences I got through my traveling with my father.

- Rokia Traore

Going back and forth between Western Arabic and African countries clearly created the various musical backgrounds I could have and obviously influenc…

- Rokia Traore

I prefer simple things - monotone melodies repeating the same things all the time. Because I think life is like that.

- Rokia Traore

It's a great experience just to understand that finally being well known is not the most important thing.

- Rokia Traore

There are some things around us that are not actually useful. I didn't know that before. It's very new for me to understand. That became my way of wr…

- Rokia Traore

You can't be unique any way. Music is made from seven notes. You will always come back to something. Even if you think you are unique, you will come …

- Rokia Traore