Malian music: griots, kora, balafon and the great voices of Bamako
Understanding Malian music: the legacy of the Mali Empire, griots (jeliw) and their families, instruments (kora, balafon, n'goni, djembe), the national orchestras born after independence and internationally known artists.
Malian music is as diverse as the country, but one influence dominates: that of the Mandinka Mali Empire, from around 1230 to 1600. In Bamako it lives at weddings and naming ceremonies, on the radio, in markets and in concert halls. Here are the landmarks to understand it.
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Key points
- Griots (jeli, plural jeliw) are professional musicians and orators who pass on history and genealogies.
- The kora, a 21- to 25-string harp-lute, is the most popular traditional instrument.
- After independence, the State backed regional orchestras and youth competitions in Bamako, which became the Artistic and Cultural Biennale.
- Internationally known artists include Salif Keita, Toumani Diabaté, Ali Farka Touré, Amadou & Mariam, Oumou Sangaré, Fatoumata Diawara and Tinariwen.
Griots, keepers of memory
Mali's literary tradition is largely oral. The jeliw (griots) form a caste of professional musicians and orators, attached to noble families. They recite genealogies and family events, praise their patrons' ancestors, remind them of the conduct that honours a family name, and also act as mediators in disputes.
Some surnames are held by griot families, including Kouyaté, Kamissoko, Sissokho, Soumano, Diabaté and Koné. Their repertoire includes very old songs, among them Lambang, which praises music, and songs glorifying heroes such as Sundiata Keita. A song combines a fixed refrain (donkili) and an improvised part.
The historian Amadou Hampâté Bâ spent much of his life recording these oral traditions.
Instruments
| Instrument | Description |
|---|---|
| Kora | 21- to 25-string harp-lute, the most popular traditional instrument; the Malian (eastern) style gives more room to the voice |
| Balafon | slat xylophone with small gourd resonators |
| N'goni | 4- to 7-string lute |
| Dununba | large drum hung from the shoulder, played with a curved stick and a bell |
| Tama (n'taman) | hourglass-shaped "talking drum" |
| Djembe and dunun | Mande percussion |
Music backed by the State after independence
Under President Modibo Keïta, the State funded orchestras and created regional orchestras for each of the seven regions of the time. From 1962 they competed at the annual National Youth Weeks held in Bamako. After 1968, the festival became, from 1970, the Artistic and Cultural Youth Biennale, held every two years.
Two groups from that period made history: the Orchestre National A, the first electric dance band, and the Ensemble Instrumental National du Mali, which brings together some forty traditional musicians from across the country.
Voices known worldwide
- Salif Keita, born into a noble family and turned singer, took Mande-based Afro-pop to the world.
- Kora players Sidiki Diabaté and Toumani Diabaté.
- Songhai and Fula guitarist Ali Farka Touré and his successors Afel Bocoum and Vieux Farka Touré.
- The Tuareg band Tinariwen and the duo Amadou & Mariam.
- Singers Oumou Sangaré and Fatoumata Diawara, twice nominated for Grammy Awards; at home, voices such as Kandia Kouyaté have been everywhere on radio and TV since the 1980s.
For festivals, see our pages on Les Voix de Bamako and the Festival sur le Niger.
Frequently asked questions
What is a griot in Mali?
A jeli, a member of a caste of professional musicians and orators who pass on history, genealogies and family values, and act as mediators.
How many strings does a kora have?
Between 21 and 25, depending on the instrument.
Who are Mali's most famous musicians?
Among the best known internationally: Salif Keita, Toumani Diabaté, Ali Farka Touré, Amadou & Mariam, Oumou Sangaré, Fatoumata Diawara and Tinariwen.
Source: Wikipedia — Music of Mali.