A roster of musicians from Mali are set to take centre stage at the UK’s Glastonbury Festival next weekend, in tribute to the country’s rich musical heritage and in response to Islamist censorship there earlier this year.
Singer-songwriter Rokia Traoré, ngoni master Bassekou Kouyate, rising star Fatoumata Diawara and Tuareg band Terakaft will all appear over the three days of the festival, while Bamako turntablist Mo DJ is set to storm the Dance Village.
Organiser Emily Eavis, speaking to the Guardian earlier in the year, explained the Mali-heavy line-up: “We have a long tradition… of African acts playing the festival. Given the situation in Mali… it felt particularly important to show some solidarity. We want to stay out of the politics, but if we can give musicians a platform we will always do that.”
Traoré, who opens the main stage of Saturday, said that even though the immediate threat of Islamist censorship has passed, the preservation of Mali’s musical legacy remains important.
“Even now that the ban on music has gone, there’s still so much to do – to make sure Malian musicians can live off their art and contribute to the renewal and evolution of the country.”
Glastonbury Festival, which runs this year from 26-30 June, was founded in 1970 and is one of the world’s largest musical festivals. In previous years it has played host to the likes of Fela Kuti, Amadou and Mariam, Ali Farka Touré, Salif Keita, Tinariwen and Oumou Sangaré.
