Rokia Traoré was "one of the biggest draws" at this past weekend's WOMAD festival, says the BBC. From backstage at the festival, held at Charlton Park in Malmesbury, Wiltshire, England, BBC reporter Ruth Barnes spoke with the Malian-born singer-songwriter, described as "one of Africa's most innovative and acclaimed musicians," for a video interview.

In the segment, which also includes performance footage from the WOMAD stage, Rokia talks about her latest Nonesuch release, Tchamantché, and discusses the "dream come true" that is her involvement with the WOMAD concerts. You can watch the interview now at news.bbc.co.uk.

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The Independent gives four star's to the festival's first night, Friday, at which "the day's star-making performance comes from Mali's Rokia Traoré." Reviewer Nick Hasted declares: "It is when she dances, hips swinging half-way to Somerset, and straps on an electric guitar to lead her band in hard, dramatic rock, that she becomes potent with pride." Read the concert review at independent.co.uk.

Rokia's label mate Youssou N'Dour closed out the festival proceedings in a rather rainy Sunday closer. The Guardian's Robin Denselow says Youssou's set was among the festival highlights. "His performance on the final evening, in a rainstorm," writes Denselow, "was a rousing reminder that he still possesses one of the greatest voices in Africa." And for all the festival entailed, the reviewer concludes, "N'Dour's set was equalled only by the frantic dance workout of a gloriously funky Rokia Traoré." Read more at guardian.co.uk.

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Rokia comes to the United States in August for a string of free outdoor concert performances, starting with the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM)'s Rhythm & Blues Festival at MetroTech in downtown Brooklyn. Similar events follow in Chicago's Millennium Park and LA's California Plaza. For more tour information, visit nonesuch.com/on-tour.