Mali: From Timbuktu to Washington
odd: label: Introduction
content: The 2003 Mali program was an invitation to think about Mali and her important place in the wider world. Mali's influence in West Africa and beyond has been felt for centuries. But her regional, continental, and global connections are not just part of the past. The Festival program also demonstrated Malians' ongoing interest in actively forging new links worldwide.

From Timbuktu to Washington evolved over five years, from a wish and an idea to a fully developed and exciting program of musical performances and cultural activities. Planning was enhanced by the previous relationships, both personal and institutional, between the Smithsonian and Malian cultural institutions and was supported by the Malian government and U.S. agencies in Mali. Malian organizers thoughtfully deliberated about what to share with American visitors and determined how Malian culture in all its diversity should be represented.

Traditional music is a vibrant expression of Mali's cultural diversity and wealth. Each ethnic group and region is characterized by certain musical rhythms, instruments, and compositions - a tremendous diversity of which were reflected in the Festival program. Music is involved in all aspects of life, marking birth, work, marriage, religious ceremonies, and death. For the Malian people, music is fundamental and essential to life: it has a precise function and meaning, and it is inextricably linked to a set of doctrines, ideals, beliefs, and practices whose coherence constitutes the identity of each group. Since beliefs about music are often associated with beliefs about the origin of both music and the ethnic group that performs it, the perpetuation of music is a matter of considerable importance.

Malian crafts are a legacy from the past but also very much a part of the present - and the future. People generally think of crafts as the artistic expression of a civilization or culture, but they are much more. Crafts are an important economic resource for Malians, and in 1995 the government adopted a Craft Code to protect and develop craft activity, which the code defined as all basically manual extraction, transformation, or production of goods or services, in metalwork (such as tool-making and appliance repair), woodwork (from carpentry to paper-making), textile and leather work (such as tailoring and tanning), mining and building trades, food processing and preparation (from meat-cutting to milling grain), health and body care (from hairdressing to incense-making), as well as arts. Crafts encompass not only objects used in rituals and traditional ceremonies, but also objects used in daily life - all demonstrated for Festival visitors on the National Mall. Other presentations focused on Malian vernacular architecture, the building arts, and foodways.

Samuel Sidibé, Oumou Dembélé, Zakiyatou Halatine, Sina Maiga, Stephanie Diakité, Modibo Diarra, and Vanessa Adams constituted the Curatorial Board/General Festival Coordination in Mali; Mary Jo Arnoldi and John Franklin were the Curatorial Team; Aboubakar Sanogo was Program Coordinator; and Diana N'Diaye was Fashion Curator. Music and Dance Commission: Kardigué Laico Traoré and N'tji Bagayoko; Craft Commission: Oumou Maiga; Architecture Commission: Alpha Baba Cissé and Boubacar Mady Diallo; Gastronomy Commission: Ami Sow; Communication Commission: Yiriba Samaké; Tourism Commission: Korotimi Théra; Commercial Crafts Commission: Tidiane Hady Kane.

The Mali National Planning Commission included: Dabele Diassana, Chair; Moussa Konaté; Gaoussou Mariko; Abdoulaye Sow; Germaine Samaké Sylla; Demba Kone; Oumou Maiga; Illal; Fatim Kouyaté; Yriba Samaké; and Mamadou Soubounou. A National Advisory Board included: Mossadeck Shada Bally; Alpha Baba Cissé; Ousmane Daou; Idrissa Diakité; Zakiyatou Halatine; Doulaye Konaté; Adam Ba Konaré, co-chair; Fatim Kouyaté; Adama Samessekou; Bintou Sanankuoa; Klena Sanogo; Samuel Sidibé, co-chair; Bakary Soumanou; Ousmane Sow; Djibril Tabouré; Adam Thiam; Barthélémy Togo; and Ibrahim Ag Youssouf.

The program was made possible by a partnership with the Government of Mali (Office of the President; Office of the Prime Minister; Malian National Folklife Festival Commission; Ministry ofTourism and Crafts; Ministry of Culture; Ministry ofWomen, Family, and Youth Affairs; and Ministry of Education), the World Bank, and the U.S. Agency for International Development. Additional supporting organizations included the U.S. Department of State, Africa Society, Corporate Council on Africa, Friends of Mali, Association of Malians, the Peace Corps, Chemonics Inc., and John Snow Inc.
label: Participants
content: PERFORMANCE TRADITIONS

Ali Farka Touré Group, Niafunke  -- Ali Farka Touré Group, NiafunkeAli Farka Touré, electric guitar, vocalsOumar Touré, congas, chorus vocalsAli KontaSouleymane Kane, djembéHamadoun BocoumMamadou Kelly

Baba Larab, Gao  -- Baba Larab, GaoGuilemikoye M'bara I., 1956-, dancerArawaidou Yacouba, 1959-, guitarSalif Maiga, 1950-, guitarZéinaba Assoutor, 1977-, dancer

Dogon Masked Dance Group, Bandiagara  -- Dogon Masked Dance Group, BandiagaraInogo Dolo, 1928-, singerSomou Dolo, 1963-, dancerYanousssou Dolo, 1956-, dancerBassa Dolo, 1970-, dancerAmatigué Dolo, 1968-, drummerAtemelou Dolo, 1973-, dancerOgodana Dolo, 1950-, drummerBasso Dolo, 1963-, singerAly Dolo, singer

Donso N'goni  -- Donso N'goniSékouba Traoré, 1965-, Koulikoro, singer and donso n'goniDramane Traoré, 1973-, Koulikoro, donso n'goniNianankoro Diarra, 1982-, Koulikoro, guiros

Ensemble Instrumental  -- Ensemble InstrumentalMassambou Wèlè Diallo, artistic directorSouadou Soumano, 1958-, singerSaranfing Kouyaté, 1950-, singerNafissatou Maiga, 1954-, singerDjeneba Doumbia, 1962-, singerAdama Soumono Sacko, 1960-, singerBabily Kanouté, 1951-, koraSaranfing Kouyaté, 1950-, koraBinéfou Koita, 1960-, n'goniModibo Diabaté, 1961-, balafonMohamadoun Ag Sidi Cissé, djembe

Groupe So Fing, Markala  -- Groupe So Fing, MarkalaMariam Thiero, 1956-, singer, dancerAichata Niono, 1971-, backup singerAlmamy Thiero, 1959-, percussionistOumar Traoré, 1959-, percussionistYaya Famenta, 1972-, percussionistMohamed Khalifa Thiero, 1959-, percussionist

Groupe Sogonikun, Wassoulou  -- Groupe Sogonikun, WassoulouAmadou Diakité, 1941-, dancerBakary Diakité, 1979-, dancerKassoum Diakité, 1980-, dancerBrehima Diallo, 1973-, percussionistMamaourou Doumbia, 1979-, percussionistAlmamy Traoré, 1963-, percussionistKadiè Traoré, 1978-, singerDoussouba Traoré, singer

Kanaga de Mopti  -- Kanaga de MoptiDjeliba Koné, 1953-, trumpetKaniba dit Demba Koné, 1965-, guitarIssa Koné, 1978-, guitarMaki Koné, 1958-, singerSada Traoré, 1978-, drummerSekou dit Tomi Koné, 1952-, saxophone, balafonBouraima Diabaté, 1961-, singerPapa Koné, 1966-, bass guitarMamadou Traoré, 1950-, band leaderSekou Diankoumba, 1948-, singer

Krin de Birgo, Kita  -- Krin de Birgo, KitaDemba Sidibé, singer, calabashMooro Sidibé, djembeTenemba Diallo, 1988-, calabashBakary Sidibé, calabash, camale n'goni

Musical Storytellers  -- Musical StorytellersMoctar Kone, 1945-, n'goni, MourdiahMamary Diabaté, 1943-, n'goni, Bamako

N'Goussoun, Koulikoro  -- N'Goussoun, KoulikoroMariam Bagayoko, 1952-, singer, dancerDjéneba Bagayoko, 1978-, chorus singerDognan Coulibaly, 1975-, balafonAlou Diarra, 1975-, balafon

Néba Solo Group, Sikasso  -- Néba Solo Group, SikassoSouleymane Traoré (Néba Solo), 1969-, balafonYacouba Traoré, 1963-, keregneSiaka Traoré, 1971-, balafonOumar Coulibaly, 1971-, percussionZantien Gonsogo, 1959-, percussionMahamadou Traoré, 1976-, percussionBocary Dembélé, dancerIbrahim Dembélé, 1974-, dancer

Oumou Sangaré, Wassoulou  -- Oumou Sangaré, WassoulouOumou Sangaré, 1968-, lead vocalsSaya Kouyaté, 1973-, singer, dancerZoumana Tereta, 1963-, sokou (traditional violin)Abdoulaye Fofana, 1954-, fluteNabintou Diakité, 1972-, singer, dancerMouneissa Tandina, 1964-, drummerSalah Baba, 1974-, guitarHamane Touré, 1964-, bassOusmane Haidara, 1954-, managerBrehima Diakité, 1965-, camale n'goniCheikh Oumar Diabaté, 1968-, djembeAlama Diakite, yabara (percussion)

Salif Keita, Bamako  -- Salif Keita, BamakoSalif Keita, 1949-, lead vocals, guitarDjely Moussa Kouyaté, electric guitarHarouna Samaké, camale n'goniDrissa Bagayoko, djembeMamadou Kone, calabashAdama Kouyaté, tamaSouleymane Doumbia, African congasSouleyman Kouyaté, n'goniAbdoulaye Diabaté, keyboardsAminata Doumbia, 1976-, background vocalsAssitan Diarra, background vocalsJean-Marie Avisse, technical crewIsabel Bonvalet, technical crewTimor Cardenas, technical crewJohnson Mensah, technical crewDavid Lunardelli, technical crew

Tabital Pulaku, Mopti  -- Tabital Pulaku, MoptiBoureima Dicko, 1947-, fluteDinda Sarré, 1958-, n'goniGabdo Cissé, 1978-, dancerGoro Hamadoun, 1971-, calabashAminata Coulibaly, dancerHamadoun Biga Cissé, drumYehia Dicko, violinAlima Barry, dancerAminata Salmana Traoré, singer

Tartit, Kel Antessar  -- Tartit, Kel AntessarMohamed Aly Ansar, leaderIssa Amanou, n'goniMohamed Issa Ag Oumar, n'goniIdwal Ag Mohamed, n'goniFatoumata Walett Mohomadoun, dancerTafa Walett Alhousseini, violinFatoumata HaidaraZeinabu Walett Oumar, tende

PUPPETRY

Yaya Coulibaly, 1957-, puppeteer, Bamako

CRAFT TRADITIONS

Fatoumata Maiga, 1961-, carding, Ségou

Aminata Keita, 1983-, spinning, Ségou

Ousmane Sarré, 1969-, cotton weaving, Badalabougou

Kola Kassé, 1944-, wool weaving, Mopti

Nakounté Diarra,  -- bogolan -- , mudcloth, Kolokani

Founemousso Sakiliba, 1940-,  -- bogolan -- , mudcloth, Bamako

Ousmane Ganame, 1942-, indigo-dyeing, Bandiagara

Tantou Sambaké, modern tie-dyeing, Bamako

Aminata Sacko, 1961-, modern tie-dyeing, Bamako

Sanounou Bathily, fabric finishing, Bamako

Ousmane Traoré, 1947-, hand embroidery, Djenne

Sekou Touré, machine embroidery, Bamako

Dikourou Diarrah Traoré, fashion design, Dou Couture, Bamako

Sambou Fané, fashion design, Bamako

Kasobane Design Group, Bamako  -- Kasobane Design Group, BamakoKandioura Coulibaly, fashion designKlétigui Dembélé, fashion design

Style Movement Consultants Models  -- Style Movement Consultants ModelsStephanie Alexander, Toya Brown, Terraria Chase, Maria Dennard, Tanisha Dodson, Alyssa Grannum, Torye Hurt, Viola Iso-Hola, Evan Jones, Sean Majors, Darlena Perry, Darletra Perry, Angela Tilghman, Latonya Tilghman, Nila Zachman

Malian Association Models  -- Malian Association ModelsRokiatou Ba, Aminata Amy Cissé, Boubacar Cissé, Djeneba Djenny Diakité, Aichatou Keita, Hawa Keita, Kadiatou Koné, Djingareye M. Lawani, Adam A. Ouologuem, Assetou Traoré, Fanta Traoré

Alassane Ag Agaly, 1973-, Tuareg jewelry, Gao

Amadou Samasekou, 1955-, Tuareg jewelry, Mopti

Hady Koné, 1967-, modern jewelry, Bamako

Mamadou Gueye Thiam, modern jewelry, Kayes

Kassim Ballo, 1961-, blacksmithing, Bamako

Mohamed Ag Iknane, 1964-, blacksmithing, Gao

Kadidia Nienta, 1975-, pottery, Mopti

Almadane Traoré, 1939-, straw jewelry, Timbuktu

Fatoumata Gariko, 1958-, straw jewelry, Hombori, Mopti region

Halimatou Abouba, mat-weaving, Gao

Tago Walet Mémé, 1956-, leather work, Timbuktu

Fadiala Dembelé, 1953-, modern leather work, Bamako

Tairou Soumbounou, shoemaking, Bamako

Mody Cissoko, 1959-, wood sculpture, Bamako

ARTS OF ADORNMENT

Kadidia Ouologuem, 1963-, hairdressing, Bamako

Soumata Sidi, 1964-, hairdressing, Gao

Aminata Doumbia, 1976-, henna artistry. Bamako

Korotoumo Ouattara, 1948-, shea butter extraction, Sikasso

TRADITIONAL MEDICINE

Toumani Diakité, 1966-, Bamako

FOODWAYS TRADITIONS

Ami Sow

Kadiatou Sow Traoré, 1955-

Halimatou Touré

Kadia Souko

Fatoumata Sissoko Cissé

Koumba Kanté

Mariam Diarra

Aissa Touré Alhamafi, 1955-

Maimouna Coulibaly Camara

ARCHITECTURE TRADITIONS

Baba Cissé, architect

Boubacar Mady Diallo, architect

Alassane Hasseye, 1942-, master mason

Boubacar Kouroumanse, master mason

Manhamane dit Berre Yanou, 1936-, master mason

Almoudou Baigna, master mason

Alhousseini Ag Tajoudine, 1963-, Tuareg tent

Sekou Tientao, mason

Mandedeou Tanapo, mason

Mamoudou Kontao, mason

Oumar Yonou, mason

Agaly Ousmane, mason

Baba Touré, mason

Ahamadou Hasseye, mason

Adoulahi Albaidja, mason
name: label: Collection Creator
content: Smithsonian Institution. Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage
setName: label: See more items in
content: Smithsonian Folklife Festival records: 2003 Smithsonian Folklife Festival
dataSource: label: Archival Repository
content: Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections
identifier: label: Identifier
content: CFCH.SFF.2003, Series 3
objectType: label: Type
content: Archival materials