The story of Folila - the word means 'music' in Bambara - boasts three distinct chapters, and is a tale of how two records became one. Marc-Antoine Moreau, the duo's long-time manager and producer explains: "The original idea was to make two albums: One was going to be a crossover record made in New York City, where Amadou & Mariam have many musical friends and relationships; and the other was to be a more rootsy album recorded in Bamako with mostly African guests and African percussion instead of a drum kit." Both plans came to fruition, but when Amadou & Mariam listened back to the richness of the two sessions, a third way suggested itself: To combine the two recordings in a seamless, organic fashion. The resulting work is an example of how tradition and modernity can work together to generate something new and unique.