Watch: Fatoumata Diawara Gathers Malian Artists As Voices United for Mali to Record Song for Peace
In response to the current situation in Mali, Fatoumata Diawara has gathered together over 40 of Mali’s most renowned musicians in a studio in Mali's capital, Bamako, to record a song and video calling for peace.
Known collectively as Voices United for Mali, the group includes Amadou & Mariam, Oumou Sangare, Toumani Diabate, Afel Bocoum, Bassekou Kouyate, Vieux Farka Toure, Djelimadi Tounkara, Khaira Arby, Kasse Mady Diabate, Baba Salah, Tiken Jah, Amkoullel, and Habib Koite among many others. The track is titled "Mali-ko" (Peace / La Paix). Watch the video for the song below, followed by its original French lyrics and their English translation.
“The Malian people look to us,” the 30-year old Diawara said earlier this week. “They have lost hope in politics. But music has always brought hope in Mali. Music has always been strong and spiritual, and has had a very important role in the country, so when it comes to the current situation, people are looking to musicians for a sense of direction.”
Diawara launched the song at a press conference in Bamako on Thursday afternoon, following a live radio discussion on France Inter, which can be heard at franceinter.fr.
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At the same time, Glastonbury has announced Malian singer-songwriter Rokia Traoré as its first act to play the UK festival this year. And the Guardian, recognizing the central role music has played in Mali's national identity and the threat the current conflict poses, asked a number of African and Western artists to discuss some of their favorite music to have come from Mali. Ian Birrell, co-founder of Africa Express who calls Traoré "one of the most brilliant talents I have ever seen," leads the article by noting of Mali's musicians that "a succession of sublime artists have blazed a trail around the world, their easily accessible, blues-based sounds making the word Mali even more synonymous with magical music."
Among the artists cited in the piece are Amadou & Mariam (by Massive Attack's Robert del Naja and former Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr), Ali Farka Toure, Toumani Diabaté (by Kronos Quartet's David Harrington), Rokia Traoré (by Led Zeppelin bassist John Paul Jones and Femi Kuti), and Oumou Sangare. Read the complete article at guardian.co.uk.
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Watch Voices United for Mali perform "Mali-ko" (Peace / La Paix):
"Mali-ko" (Peace / La Paix)
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Refrain: |
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Haira Harby: |
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Fatoumata Diawara: |
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Amkoullel: |
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Doussou Bakayoko: |
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Kasse Mady: |
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Sadio Sidibé: |
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Baba Salah: |
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Refrain: |
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Soumaila Kanouté: |
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Master Soumi: |
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M’baou Tounkara: |
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Oumou Sangare: |
Listen to me: We must take care now, or our children will never know the real story of our country. We might lose it. Careful now, or our children will suffer tomorrow.
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Koko Dembelé: |
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Babani Koné: |
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Afel Bocoum: |
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Iba one: |
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Tiken Jah: |
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Fati Kouyaté: |
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Kisto Dem: |
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Nahawa Doumbia: |
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Mamadou Diabate: |
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Amadou & Mariam: |
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Tamachek: |
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Oumou Sangare: |
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Habib Koite: |
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Djeneba Seck: |
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Vieux Farka Toure: |
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Mylmo: |
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Amadou & Mariam: |
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Amadou Bakayoko: |
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Nahawa Doumbia: |
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