Music In Mali, West Africa (Two Videos & Links)

Edited by Azizi Powell

[This pancocojams post was published in 2012.] 

Two times during the third United States Presidential Debate 10/22/2012 Republican nominee Mitt Romney very briefly mentioned the nation of Mali, West AfricaBoth of those comments focused on the rise of terrorist groups in that nation. However, those comment prompted me to look up the post I've published on this cultural blog about Malian music.

Among those posts are:
http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/05/mendiani-menjani-manjani-dance-drum.html
"Mendiani (Menjani, Manjani) Dance & Drum Rhythm"

and

http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/06/videos-of-dogon-mask-dancers-mali-west.html
"Videos Of Dogon Mask Dancers (Mali, West Africa)"

-snip-
The very brief comments about Mali in that debate also motivated me to scan YouTube for other videos about music in the West African nation of Mali. This is one of the videos that I found:

New Movie Trailer "Music in Mali: Life is Hard, Music Is Good"



Published on Sep 26, 2012

http://www.systemkrush.com

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kanaga-System-Krush/164940735147

Music In Mali: Life Is Hard, Music Is Good" is a feature-length documentary about the musicians, dancers and everyday people of Mali who are creating inspiring heartfelt music in some of the most difficult living conditions of West Africa. The crew from System Krush Productions have been going to Mali for a decade to record and document the lives of musicians such as Djelimady Tounkara, Lobi Traoré, Mangala Camara, Dejenba Seck, and Toumani Diabate, in intimate settings, performing their music and sharing their story.

From one of the world's most impoverished countries viewers will hear the music that has inspired artists all around the globe including celebrities such as Bonnie Raitt, Damon Albarn, Taj Mahal, Ry Cooder and Bannning Eyre. From the villages of Segou to the ghettos of Bamako the message is clear "Life is hard, music is good".

-snip-

I also found this video:

African Music and Dancing



Uploaded on Aug 21, 2008


Take a look at the beautiful African dancing and music from Mali, West Africa. The instruments being played are balafons, African D'Jembe drums, and talking drums. You can see more videos at http://www.africaimports.com

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RELATED LINK
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mali

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ACKNOWLEDGEMNT AND THANKS
Thanks to Malian musicians, vocalists, and dancers for keeping the wonderful traditions of Mali, West Africa alive inspite of the political difficulties that that nation is going through.

Thanks to the publishers of these videos.

Finally, thank you for visiting pancocojams.

Viewer comments are welcome.