Mali's beautiful music could soon be silenced. It started slowly, in fits and starts.
When the first Islamic fundamentalists invaded Northern Mali in September of last year, they immediately begun to stamp out the local music.
In a country where music defines the very identity of the place, it is inconceivable that such voices as Salif Keita, Ali Farka Toure` and other great musicians should be silenced.
But that's exactly what the extremists are trying to do. At first the militants sent threats. Then they forced most of the musicians into exile.
The musical venues and places were shuttered next. Finally the famous Festival of the Desert in Burkina Faso was cancelled for fear of terrorist acts.
Even after the French offensive, there is no safety in Mali. All cultural venues are bolted down, indefinitely.
Most musicians are now leaving the country in fear of reprisals from the Malian army, which is said to target northern people.
There are many indications that shutting down the music industry was an attempt to cut Mali's economic lifeforce, since it is a country with no natural resources, and music had become one of its few vital sources of revenue. The religious motive, even though it was claimed, does not seem to fit with the rest of the Islamists' actions.
Most people however, see it as just another way to terrorize people into submission. A way to place a stranglehold on the country.
Music in Mali is not just entertainment. It is a tradition that is so steeped in the cultural heritage of the place, that it even mimics language through a music form the 'talking drum' and storytelling called 'griot'. It is also a fundamental part of celebration, at weddings, funerals and all other occasions. They are ritual musicians that color these ceremonies, called 'praise singers'.
The griot is an invaluable storytelling format. All that is not written in books, of which there are few, is etched instead in the memories of the storytellers.
Without music, Mali will have no soul, no history, no voice. It's not just the economic factor, it's the whole country being able to communicate, to voice opinions and concerns, to leave the children with the memories of their fathers.
Source : AFP 5.25.13
No comments:
Post a Comment