The Music Box.
Entries about the music I like.
The Music of Mali: Part 3
The overall air of joyousness in Amadou & Mariam's music is even more amazing when put in the context of the lives they've led. Over 2+ decades before the release of 2004’s Dimanche à Bamako, Amadou Bagayoko and Mariam Doumbia met at Mali's Institute for the Young Blind. Here, Bagayoko, who'd lost his vision at 16, and Doumbia, who'd lost hers at 5, found a shared love for music.
The Music of Mali: Part 2
Tuaregs represent a small percentage of the Malian population, which is mostly of sub-Saharan ancestry. The music of these peoples bears a striking resemblance not only to Tuareg music, but also to music from the rest of West Africa. This piece is about Ali Farka Touré and Toumani Diabaté.
The Music of Mali: Part 1
The slipshod drawing of borders during decolonisation seems designed to plunge most colonies into a period of post-independence uncertainty with which most ex-colonies are still coming to terms. But that’s not what this piece is about. What I will discuss is the music of Mali, and the impact the country’s diverse cultures has on its music.