Feb 12, 2010
More From Mali
It’s only been a few short days since our team arrived in Mali and I
am already blown away by the experiences we’ve shared and the people
we’ve met. We’re really excited about the progress made on developing
our next music school in the village of Krina. Thanks to the amazing
dedication of our friends Mahamadou Diabate and Seydou Dembele, plans
are coming together quickly! Before leaving Bamako we were able to
meet with a local architect about designing the structure for the
school, and an expert in well-digging and water sourcing to provide
clean drinking water for the school (as well as the village).
The idea to build a music school in Krina was brought to us by
Mahamadou, and he has and will continue to play a pivotal role in
helping the idea come to fruition. The Diabate family’s roots in
Malian music go back over 70 generations and they are famous in Mali
for carrying the history and cultural traditions of their ancestors
through the music they play. Mahamadou’s father, Sidiki Diabate, was
one of the first kora players to record an album, which brought the
music of West Africa to the rest of the world.
On our last day in Krina, the inimitable Senegalese musician, Baaba
Maal, arrived with his band and gave a very special performance to
celebrate the school that will soon stand in the village. Baaba’s
connection to the project goes back to one afternoon many years ago
when he paid a visit to his friend and fellow musician, Sidiki Diabate
(the “King of Kora”). While the two men visited, Sidiki’s young son
Mahamadou sat on his knee and watched them. Mahamadou went on to
become an accomplished musician in his own right (no surprise given
the musical family he comes from!) and is now a widely-respected
percussionist specializing in the djembe and kalabash. Mahamadou was
too young to remember Baba Maal’s visit that day and their paths did
not cross again until the day of the performance in Krina. It was
truly inspiring to watch the two perform together, and to think about
the young child from many years ago now playing alongside his father’s
friend and giving the gift of music back to the village of his
ancestors. This day stands as a reminder that music can create bonds
that last a lifetime…and beyond. We’re so excited that the children
of Krina will soon be able to learn more about their rich musical
heritage and have the opportunity to connect not only to their past,
but to their future.
-Shauna