Little-known musical treasures of the Sahel: discovering Sahel Sounds
Going on adventures, exploring distant lands, and discovering new musical talents, this is the daily life of Christopher Kirkley, founder of the American label Sahel Sounds. In the heart of the Sahel, this vast region of Africa which is full of still little-known musical riches, Kirkley has made it its mission to highlight local artists and help them make a living from their music. With a solidarity model and an approach based on the development of local skills, this independent music adventurer has become an essential figure in the Sahelian music scene.
It was in 2007, shortly after falling in love with the haunting sounds of the area, that Kirkley decided to set off on an adventure. From Portland to Nouakchott, via Paris and Marrakech, he travels nearly 10,000 kilometers to reach the Sahel. Without a precise plan, he lets himself be guided by his curiosity and makes surprising encounters along his journey. From Mauritania to Mali, via Burkina Faso and Niger, Kirkley immerses himself in the musical worlds of each country, immerses himself in their cultures, and records the musicians he meets along the way.
His blog, followed by a handful of enthusiasts, then becomes a witness to his Sahelian experience. He shares his musical discoveries, his human encounters, and documents his daily journey. But it wasn’t until he returned to the United States in 2009 that Kirkley realized the impact his trip had on him. He decided to create his own label, Sahel Sounds, and get involved in promoting music from the Sahel.
The Sahel, this Sahelian region, little known at the time, is little visible on the international music scene. But Kirkley sees in this lack of knowledge an opportunity to introduce the whole world to the musical treasures of the region. He works with the artists he met during his trip, helps them promote their music, and works to enable them to make a living from their art. But its approach is different from the traditional models of independent labels. He insists on fairness and ownership of artists’ rights. Profits are shared equitably, and artists retain ownership of their music.
With Sahel Sounds, Kirkley becomes a key player in the Sahelian music scene. His label helps promote talented artists who would otherwise have remained in the shadows. The growing recognition of music from the Sahel is increasingly attracting the curiosity of music lovers from around the world. Artists from the Sahel see their horizons broaden, and their music reaches new listeners.
In a world where differences sometimes seem to separate us, music proves to be a universal language, a link between people. Christopher Kirkley understood this during his trip to the Sahel. It was marked by the hospitality and diversity of this region of the world, but above all by the universal love for music. With Sahel Sounds, he continues to explore this common passion and share the musical treasures of the Sahel with the world.