In case you have yet to go to Mali it is poor country on the southern edge of the Sahara, landlocked and difficult to get to. It has recently become well know as a source of "World Music" and "Mali Music", an album created by Damon Albarn (Blur and Gorillaz) is an interesting introduction to its music.

Track Listings

1. Spoons
2. Bamako City
3. Le Relax
4. Nabintoue Diakite (Live)
5. Makelekele
6. Djembe
7. Tennesse Hotel
8. Niger
9. 4am At Toumani's
10. Institut National Des Arts
11. Kela Village
12. Griot Village
13. Le Hogon
14. Sunset Coming On
15. Ko Kan Ko Sata Doumbia On River
16. Les Ecros

This is an interesting blend of Western techniques and African music - listen to Toumani Diabaté's kora (a 21-cord harp), the njurka (a traditional violin), the balafon, and the ngoni .

I love this CD I have been playing it repeatedly for the last week and the music gets better, I really can't name one track I prefer above the rest.

After listening to this CD try the music of Youssou N'Dour, Salif Keita  and Ali Farka Toure, to name but three of Mali's talented musicians.

If World Music is new to you listen to Charlie Gillett’s World Music Show on the BBC World Service [short wave and Internet - http://db.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/programmes/wmusic.shtml] - [sound: http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/aod/wsmusic_aod.shtml?ws_charliegillet]  and be prepared to learn about a whole new musical universe [needs Real One].  I will write some more about one of the most interesting radio programs in the world.

Oxfam also shares in the royalties from CD sales.

Link to Amazon.com: Mail Music - Astralwerks 2002

MALI: "Mali is a country that is intimately related to a great river--in this case, the Niger. In addition, Mali is the location of some of the continent's most interesting cultural sites. Legendary Timbuktu is located here, and in the center of the country is the magnificently dramatic Bandiagara escarpment, home to the fascinating culture of the Dogon." "The majority of Mali's people are Muslim, and the official language is French. Bambara, however, is the country's true lingua franca."

From An Introduction to Mali.