MALIAN MUSICIANS WON T BE SILENCED
LAST year the director of Mali s major music festival appealed to South Africans to raise awareness of the fight against the silencing of Malian artists by separatist movements and armed Islamist groups.
The groups, who are said to have captured two thirds of the country, are determined to silence the voice of musicians because of their extreme religious beliefs and other agendas.
So what is the Festival in the Desert? It is a musical extravaganza during the yearly Moshito Music Conference, which has taken place for the past 12 years in the Sahel desert in the region of Essakane, north of Timbuktu.
But the festival was last year forced into exile by the warring groups, who have gone so far as to chase musicians out of their homes, persecute them, burn their instruments and ban music in the villages.
Due to these oppressive acts and the ongoing war in Mali, the festival has this year come under a different name: Caravan of Artists For Peace and Unity and aims to reclaim Mali s musical heritage and pride.
Because there is currently no permanent home for the event, it will travel to neighbouring countries, including Niger, Algeria and Burkina Faso from February 7, making its last stop in Mali on March 3.
The event was inspired by the nomadic Tuareg people who practised their musical culture on their journeys through the desert.
Many Malian artists have heeded the call for solidarity with oppressed musicians, including Vieux Farka Touré, Baaba Maal, Oumou Sangare, Youssou N Dour and Emmanuel Jal, while back home artists such as Thandiswa Mazwai, HHP, Gcina Mhlope and Sibongile Khumalo have heeded the call. Says jazz singer Gloria Bosman: This is one sick attempt to oppress the arts and the artist. Aluta continua!”
tlhoaeleb@sundayworld.co.za @MsTumiT
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