Abdel Gadir Salim All-Stars

b. c.1946, Dilling, Sudan. Salim originally trained to become a teacher. However, in 1971, by then already an accomplished oud (Arabic lute) player, he was awarded a scholarship to study for five years at Sudan's Institute of Music, where he began to explore the folk music of Kordofan, the desert region in which he grew up. Forming a band that featured saxophones, violin, keyboard, electric bass and percussion, as well as his own deep, earthy voice and virtuoso oud playing, Salim became an instant hit throughout Sudan, where he and his band performed at parties, weddings, conc...