The festival opens with Vieux Farka Touré, son, musical heir, and successor to the legendary guitarist Ali Farka Touré. Now well on the way to becoming a legend himself, his own musical career was a rocky road at first, like that of his father before him, who came from a family of soldiers and had to overcome traditional expectations to become a musician. Initially, Ali Farka Touré planned a military career for his son, too, and it was only with the help of a family friend, the kora virtuoso Toumani Diabaté, that he was persuaded that music was the right path for his son. He began in 2001 with drums and calabash at the Institut National des Arts in Bamako, before turning to the guitar—in secret at first, until Ali gave his blessing and finally, shortly before his death, they even played together, recording tracks that crown Vieux’s 2007 debut album. With his second album, enriched with influences from Latin American music and rock, he emerged from his father’s shadow and developed his own style. His performance at the opening of the 2010 Football World Cup in South Africa introduced him to an international audience. Since then, he has played around the world and released further critically acclaimed albums. In 2012 he created the Amahrec Sahel Foundation to fund humanitarian aid and to promote culture. With the Ali Farka Touré Foundation, he also preserves his father’s legacy. It is no coincidence that the festival opens with this concert, since Gnawa has its roots in the Sahel and is closely related to the desert blues.