Mali Music

Traditional Mali music draws its inspiration from the old Mande Empire, fused with modern folk music influenced by European and Moors forms.

A new impetus was given to the Mali music scene when Mali gained independence from the French in 1960 and newly elected president Modibo Keita introduced a policy promoting music and the arts and the emerging radio and television stations provided a suitable vehicle for there dissemination, by which time Cuban music was impacting on the Mali music scene.

This video has some traditional Mali music set against a backdrop of scenes from Mali, Mali traditional musical instruments and dance then check out the profile page here of street children performing Mali music to support themselves and also pay a visit to our African music store for both modern and traditional African music.