Culture is our fuel

“‘Culture is our petrol,’ says Toumani Diabaté, the Malian kora player who has collaborated with Damon Albarn and Björk, to name but a few. ‘Music is our mineral wealth. There isn’t a single major music prize in the world today that hasn’t been won by a Malian artist.’

‘Music regulates the life of every Malian’, adds Cheich Tidiane Seck, a prolific Malian musician and producer. ‘From the cradle to the grave. From ancient times right up to today. A Mali without music? No … I mean … give me another one!’”

Andy Morgan, “Mali: no rhythm or reason as militants declare war on music”, The Guardian, 23 October 2012. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/oct/23/mali-militants-declare-war-music. Accessed 5 April 2014.

 

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