Overview

The vibrant documentary of the Malian music scene, which was the birthplace of blues music, follows four artists: Fatoumata "Fatou" Diawara is a rising star on the global pop scene (memorably featured in Abderrahmane Sissako's acclaimed drama Timbuktu), Bassekou Kouyate is a celebrated ngoni player and traditional griot, Master Soumy is a young street rapper influenced by hip-hop, and Ahmed Ag Kaedi is the leader of the Tuareg band Amanar and a guitar virtuoso. Each combines rich musical traditions with contemporary influences (including, interestingly, Dire Straits) to find a respected and prominent position in the world music scene.

Ahmed Ag Kaedi, from the film, will be at Notre Dame on April 19 and 20 live-scoring Carl Dreyer’s silent film The Passion of Joan of Arc.