Blues for Mali as Ali Farka Toure's music is banned by Thomas Fessy
written December 6, 2012
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Islamic fighters linked to Al-Quada have banned every form of music in northern Mali because it does not go in accordance with Islam law. Many northern musicians have fled south in an effort to keep up their singing. Other people decided that it would be impossible to leave their small town and go somewhere which is unfamiliar to them. Those left in northern Mali feel as if their culture is being ripped away. Artists are trying to raise support for the people of Mali so that music may once again be part of their lives.
It is hard to imagine my life without music; it is at the center of many aspects of my daily routine. To me, the claim that music does not abide by Islamic law does not make sense. Many other Islamic countries continue to listen to music. It seems as if the fighters linked to Al-Queda are trying to make the people of Mali universal- not having their own culture. If they suceed in doing so, who is to stop other groups from taking away the culture from different countries? It must be put to an end.
Music is a vibrant part of the culture in Mali and always has been. World known folk music has come out of this culturally distinct country. With this said, in the past, many have tied their cultural identity to folk and blues music. As Islamic fighter groups take away this aspect of culture, the people are losing a sense of who they are. In a place where people could be found crowding around a stereo, singing to their favorite songs, they now sit quitely talking. Malians agree that their lives are not the same without music. Not only is it stereos and other sound systems that are being limited, but also mobile devices and the ringtones which they play. Al-Queda is slowly controlling more aspects of culture in Mali.
click_here_to_read_this_article
Islamic fighters linked to Al-Quada have banned every form of music in northern Mali because it does not go in accordance with Islam law. Many northern musicians have fled south in an effort to keep up their singing. Other people decided that it would be impossible to leave their small town and go somewhere which is unfamiliar to them. Those left in northern Mali feel as if their culture is being ripped away. Artists are trying to raise support for the people of Mali so that music may once again be part of their lives.
It is hard to imagine my life without music; it is at the center of many aspects of my daily routine. To me, the claim that music does not abide by Islamic law does not make sense. Many other Islamic countries continue to listen to music. It seems as if the fighters linked to Al-Queda are trying to make the people of Mali universal- not having their own culture. If they suceed in doing so, who is to stop other groups from taking away the culture from different countries? It must be put to an end.
Music is a vibrant part of the culture in Mali and always has been. World known folk music has come out of this culturally distinct country. With this said, in the past, many have tied their cultural identity to folk and blues music. As Islamic fighter groups take away this aspect of culture, the people are losing a sense of who they are. In a place where people could be found crowding around a stereo, singing to their favorite songs, they now sit quitely talking. Malians agree that their lives are not the same without music. Not only is it stereos and other sound systems that are being limited, but also mobile devices and the ringtones which they play. Al-Queda is slowly controlling more aspects of culture in Mali.