African Rhythms:

Music & Culture of Mali

L’Afrique Francophone

francophone = French speaking country

France and Former French Colonies

Mali

Mali

Most of Mali, in West Africa, is in the Sahara. It is a landlocked country about 4/5 the size of Alaska. The countries that border it are: Guinea, Senegal, Mauritania, Algeria, Niger, Burkina Faso, and the Côte d'Ivoire.

l’histoire de Mali The country now known as La République de Mali became a French colony in 1904. (It was named French Sudan in 1920).

In 1946 it became part of the French Union. On June 20, 1960, Mali gained its independence.

Under the name “Sudanese Republic”, it was joined with the Republic of Senegal in the Mali federation.

However, Senegal broke away from the federation on Aug. 20, 1960.

The Sudanese Republic changed its name to the Republic of Mali on Sept. 22

Some Facts about Mali Langue officièlle = le français et le bambara [French and Bambara]

Les réligions = l’islam (90%), des croyances indigènes (9%), le christianisme (1%) [Islam, indigenous African religions, Christianity]

La population = 11,716,829 (in 2006)

La capitale = Bamako

Le Grand Mosque Djenne, Mali

www3.nationalgeographic.com/places/photos/pho...

[The Grand Mosque]

Timbuktu, Mali

Bamako

un griot

A symbol of an oral culture, the griot is a learned storyteller, poet, entertainer, historian and troubadour. Stories and history are handed down by word-of-mouth through the griot caste and many griots have memorized family genealogy for several centuries. Griots accompany their stories with music and they are often musicians of exceptional skill. It takes them years to learn the vast repertoire of traditional songs, melodies and rhythms, and in the past, the role of professional musician was reserved for griots, who spent many years fulfilling their training.

les djembes

les dununs

les balans

les tamas

la kora

le n’goni

le boubouThe boubou is the name for a flowing wide sleeved robe worn in most of West Africa and to a lesser extent in North Africa.

It's origin lies with the clothing worn by the Islamized peoples of the historic 8th Century Ghana Empire and 13th Century Mali Empire

The Boubou is usually decorated with intricate embroidery, and is worn on special religious or ceremonial occasions, for example the two Islamic Eid festivals, weddings, funerals or for attending the Mosque for Friday prayer.

un bazin

Couture à Bamako

les bogolans

The Evolution of Bogolan Bogolan is profoundly embedded in traditional Malian practices, bogolan is woven by men and decorated by women using symbolic patterns that refer to Bamana history and mythology. Today, bogolan dyes made of carefully prepared mixtures of earth, leaves and bark are used to paint elaborately detailed landscapes, images from Malian history, and abstractions.

To hear samples the music of Mali free-of-charge, visit: http://worldmusic.nationalgeographic.com/worldmusic/view/page.basic/country/content.country/mali_7