Music from the West African country of Mali

 

Welcome to As It Is.  I’m Kelly Jean Kelly.

Today, we are talking about music from the West African country of Mali.  Mali is famous for its music.  But that tradition has been threatened recently. 

The crisis in Mali began last year, when soldiers overthrew¹ the president.  And Islamist militants² soon seized control of the north.  The militants put cultural restrictions³ on the area -- including restrictions on music.

Bassekou Kouyate is a musician from Mali who has won many international awards.  He recently was in London with his band, Ngoni Ba.  Ngoni is the name of a traditional Malian instrument.  It is a six-string instrument that you play with your fingers.  It sounds like this.

Bassekou Kouyate was in London to perform in a concert.  While he was there, he criticized the Islamist militants’ restrictions on music in his country. He says music is a Muslim tradition.

“The prophet Mohammed himself invited an orchestra to his house to perform at a festival for his wife.” 

One of Bassekou Kouyate’s new songs is called “Jama Ko.”  Jama means “country,” and “ko” means about, so the song is about the country.  Bassekou Kouyate says he wrote the song to tell the world what he thinks the true Malian spirit is.

Heather Maxwell hosts VOA’s “Music Time in Africa” program.  She is an American who lived in Mali.  She says, the lyrics⁴ of “Jama Ko” mean something like, “If there’s a big party, everybody comes and dresses nicely.  Don’t be shy.  Even if you are not rich, you can come and enjoy yourself.  Do what you feel is in your heart.”

“He’s saying Malians in general are very peaceful people.  And it’s true.  The general attitude and spirit there is one of openness. And no one is really shy about just being human and being who they are.”

Several other Malian musicians performed with Bassekou Kouete in Europe.  One was Sidi Touré. For a while, Islamist militants occupied his hometown, called Gao. 

“The musical instruments that belonged to the city orchestra were burned.  There are no more instruments.”

French and West African forces have pushed the Islamist militants out of Gao as well as from most other towns and cities they controlled.  But international forces are still fighting militants in the far north of Mali, near the Algerian border. 

The rest of the country is facing a humanitarian⁵ crisis.  The United Nations reports tens of thousands of people have fled their homes since the fighting began.  Tens of thousands more are without food.  And more than half a million children have not been able to go to school.

Fatoumata Diawara is another Malian musician who is trying to call attention to the suffering in Mali.  She has a new song called “Mali Ko,” or About Mali. The song includes many Malian musicians. 

“What they’re saying is look at what’s happening in Mali.  This is not right.  We want peace.”

VOA’s Heather Maxwell says “Mali Ko” reflects several of the country’s musical traditions.  Listen for the classical stringed kora from western Mali.  The fast tempo⁶ and xylophones are from the south.  You can even hear some rap music. 

Heather Maxwell says this kind of musical mix makes sense in Mali.  Even though the country is ethnically⁷ diverse, Malians often joke about their differences.  Heather Maxwell says when two people meet, they often ask each other’s last names to find out their family background.

“And you call somebody a ‘bean eater,’ for example.  Or, ‘you used to be my slave.’ Or, ‘you’re a lie and a cheat.  And your whole family are liars⁸ and cheaters.’  And everybody laughs and they sort of banter⁹.” 

Heather Maxwell says that same respectful relationship is part of the country’s musical tradition. 

“All the music reflects Mali’s diversity, but everyone likes everyone else’s music.”

We leave you with a Brazilian song played by a French cellist¹⁰ and a Malian guitarist. 

“When I hear that, it puts me at peace. And I feel like Mali is going to be okay because this music is very peaceful.”

“Asa Branca,” from the album “At Peace,” by Balike Sisoukou. 

That’s AS IT IS for today.  I’m Kelly Jean Kelly.

1 overthrew   

overthrow的过去式

参考例句：

• The people finally rose up and overthrew the reactionary regime. 人们终于起来把反动的政权推翻了。
• They overthrew their King. 他们推翻了国王。

2 militants   

激进分子，好斗分子( militant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The militants have been sporadically fighting the government for years. 几年来，反叛分子一直对政府实施零星的战斗。
• Despite the onslaught, Palestinian militants managed to fire off rockets. 尽管如此，巴勒斯坦的激进分子仍然发射导弹。

3 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

4 lyrics   

n.歌词

参考例句：

• music and lyrics by Rodgers and Hart 由罗杰斯和哈特作词作曲
• The book contains lyrics and guitar tablatures for over 100 songs. 这本书有100多首歌的歌词和吉他奏法谱。

5 humanitarian   

n.人道主义者，博爱者，基督凡人论者

参考例句：

• She has many humanitarian interests and contributes a lot to them.她拥有很多慈善事业，并作了很大的贡献。
• The British government has now suspended humanitarian aid to the area.英国政府现已暂停对这一地区的人道主义援助。

6 tempo   

n.(音乐的)速度；节奏，行进速度

参考例句：

• The boss is unsatisfied with the tardy tempo.老板不满于这种缓慢的进度。
• They waltz to the tempo of the music.他们跟着音乐的节奏跳华尔兹舞。

7 ethnically   

adv.人种上，民族上

参考例句：

• Ethnically, the Yuan Empire comprised most of modern China's ethnic groups. 元朝的民族成分包括现今中国绝大多数民族。 来自汉英非文学 - 白皮书
• Russia is ethnically relatively homogeneous. 俄罗斯是个民族成分相对单一的国家。 来自辞典例句

8 liars   

说谎者( liar的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The greatest liars talk most of themselves. 最爱自吹自擂的人是最大的说谎者。
• Honest boys despise lies and liars. 诚实的孩子鄙视谎言和说谎者。

9 banter   

n.嘲弄，戏谑；v.取笑，逗弄，开玩笑

参考例句：

• The actress exchanged banter with reporters.女演员与记者相互开玩笑。
• She engages in friendly banter with her customers.她常和顾客逗乐。

10 cellist   

n.大提琴手

参考例句：

• The cellist's bowing was very sensitive . 那位大提琴手的弓法十分细腻。 来自辞典例句
• World-renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma founded The Silk Road Project in 1998. 世界闻名的大提琴家马友友于1998年创建了丝路工程。 来自互联网