Melodies are stark and often slow. All musicians learn a number of core songs in the Malink style, such as the epic song, Sundyata . Some melodies are used over and over again, with different words, and in different arrangements. Malink music has, of course, changed and developed over the years, especially since Mali's independence in the 1960s, as well as with the use of recordings, radio, and television. One such development was the use of dance bands to provide entertainment in clubs and restaurants.
Traditional musicians belong to a caste, known as the jali .
They used to entertain the Malian nobility at Court, telling epic stories in song. Until relatively recently, historical knowledge was passed on from one generation to another by the jalis. See also praise singers in the Burkina Faso virtual journey. Most Malian musicians are jalis. It has been very hard for people who are not jalis to be accepted into the profession.