North Mali, Vieux Farka Touré, son of the critically acclaimed guitarist Ali Farka Touré, stated “There's no music up there anymore. You can't switch on a radio or a TV, even at home." Malian Guitarist Anansy Cissé’s album ‘Anoura’ reached number 1 for May 2021 at the World Music charts for 2021. The album includes issues such as poverty, righteous conduct, and an indirect commentary on Mali’s parlous political situation. Anansy’s music implements Malian culture with the use of traditional instruments such as the ‘ngoni’ and ‘calabash’. In 2018 Cissé was toplay at peace festival in his hometown of Diré, Timbuktu when he and his band were held captive and their musical instruments destroyed by an armed gang. The aftermath of 2012 is present in contemporary Malian music as musicians aim for artistic freedom and the promotion of peace and unity in Mali. Vieux Farka Touré has been quoted as saying that “Without music, Mali will cease to exist”. Musicians in Mali continue to create music even in the face of persecution and violence. Mali traditionally has been renowned for its musical roots especially by the “Desert blues” guitarist Ali Farka Touré. Post-2012, the musical prohibition of Mali has indirectly promoted Malian music by its exposure to western mainstream music. References Duran, Lucy. "West Africa's Musical Powerhouse". 2000. In Broughton, Simon and Ellingham, Mark with McConnachie, James and Duane, Orla (Ed.), World Music, Vol. 1: Africa, Europe and the Middle East, pp 539–562. Rough Guides Ltd, Penguin Books. Hoffman, Barbara G. Griots at War: Conflict, Conciliation and Caste in Mande. 2000. Bloomington: Indiana University Press. "The Mali connection", by Banning Eyre, from Boston Phoenix, September 2002 A discography of Malian music - http://www.radioafrica.com.au/Discographies/Malian.html External links 10 Malian musicians you should know - Flavorwire Audio clips: Traditional music of Mali. Musée d'ethnographie de Genève. Accessed November 25, 2010. Audio clips - traditional music of Mali. French National Library. Accessed November 25, 2010. BBC Radio 3 Audio (180 minutes): Music of Mali 1989. Accessed November 25, 2010. BBC Radio 3 Audio (75 minutes): Festival in the Desert 2003. Accessed November 25, 2010. BBC Radio 3 Audio (75 minutes): Mopti, Timbuktu and Bamako featuring Les Escrocs and Toumani Diabate. Accessed November 25, 2010. BBC Radio 3 Audio (60 minutes): Ali Farka Toure. Accessed November 25, 2010. BBC Radio 3 Audio (60 minutes): Mali Bambara Blues. Accessed November 25, 2010. BBC Radio 3 Audio