4th Edition of the "Great Ball" of Youssou Dour
Mali at the place of honour

The manager of Youssou N'Dour, the super star of the M’balax, was in our office last week. Mr. Mady Dramé had come to present at the press the projects of You and sign with Mali K7 the contract of distribution of the album of the 4th edition of the "Great ball Paris-Bercy", an event that the singer and his group, "the Super star of Dakar", organize annually in the French capital. And this year, Mali was doubly at the place of honour.

Firstly by the fact that Rokia Traoré, the star of Beledougou, was one of the guests of honour of Youssou Dour for this 4th edition. They interpreted in duet the title "Birima", one of great successes of the child of Medina. And this in front of a dumbfound public which did not hesitate to strike up the famous song in honour of the fine Rose of the Malian music instead of applauding. And Youssou did not hide his satisfaction and his admiration for this "sister and friend who has much talent". "It is a magisterial and majestic Rokia Traoré, personally invited by You, that we saw on last May 22nd in Bercy. It is an experienced artist who already conquered Europe", testified Mr. Mady Dramé, manager of Youssou and organizer of the" Great ball ". After Bamako, he is awaited in the majority of the African western capitals like in Yaoundé (Cameroon).
Mali had also the place of honour because You sang during the memorable event the vibrating homage paid to our capital in the Eighties: "Bamako"; a mark of recognition from our "brother-in-law". The other event of the party was the performance of the star with two superstars of the zouk and tenors of Kassav: Jocelyne Beroard and Jacob Desvarieux.
Several reasons to precipitate on the album live of the 4th edition of this spectacle which, in four years only, became the greatest African musical event in Europe. A festival to which the Malian colony of France even of Europe takes part massively. This opus is now on sale thanks to Mali K7. Better, except delay taken with printing works, it must be release in Mali (July 6th, 2004) that means one day before Senegal (July 7th, 2004). "The choice of Mali K7 is not fortuitous. It is a very effective company by its professionalism. We have always had confidence in it because it always matched our expectations", explains Mr. Mady Dramé, the manager of Youssou N'Dour presently on tour in the United States for two months.
The travel to Bamako also allows Mr. Dramé to inform the media of certain projects of his star. It was during a press conference that he animated on last July 1st at Mali K7. The occasion was beautiful to announce the caravan Youssou Dour intends to undertake in ten African countries starting from February 2005. An initiative which subject will be "Peace and Unit in Africa" and during which the artist will meet the media, the political authorities, the leaders of opinion… in order to find a perennial solution to misery, famine, conflicts, poverty… Plagues which deviate our continent from the way of its development. An engagement which does not surprise from the Child of Medina.
Prize winner of the "Price 2003" of UNESCO that he will receive next October in Germany, You is also ambassador of several U.N. organization like the FAO, the UNICEF, the UNDP, etc. He is also militant of "Jubilé 2000" which fights for the cancellation of the heavy and handicapping debt of Africa. Apart from this initiative, the manager announced that other projects are considered in partnership with Malian stars like Ali Farka Touré and Oumou Sangaré. Music is easily crossing the obstacles against which the political integration continues to clash in Africa.
"Africa is not a poor continent. Our cultural inheritance constitutes for example a priceless richness if it is judiciously exploited", explained Mr. Dramé. In any case, music contributes today to the socio-economic development of the continent. But, Africa can draw more from its culture, of its music especially, with the existence of true cultural companies like that of Youssou Dour. Indeed, the artist employs today approximately 300 people thanks to structures like Jololi, Xippi, Thiossane, Saprom, the Foundation Youssou Dour, groups of Medias… Not forgetting his contribution to the framing and the production of young artists. All that contributes to the fight against unemployment, to the political stability and the socio-economic development of Senegal even of Africa.
It is not easy to create such a company in Mali because of the extent of piracy. Indeed, this galloping plague is killing all the cultural projects in the country, especially at the musical level. The companies specialised in music are almost all in bankruptcy. It then becomes difficult for the promoters to put into practice their ambitions and their policies of development of the sector. As long as piracy is not stemmed, it will be difficult for the Malian stars to follow the example of Youssou Dour in terms of achievements and investment.
It also should be stressed that since 2005, the name of Youssou Dour will appear among the celebrities (proper nouns) of the dictionary "Larousse". Another court of great man which thus opens its doors to the Child of Medina, of Africa!
King Moseto

Amkoullel in Bamako
Awaited in the Malian capital for his annual show, the Fulani child, Amkoullel arrived at last in Bamako from Paris last Friday. The music lovers of the capital and surroundings wait impatiently this rendezvous of July 16th to the Luna Parc. The cards and tickets are already available at Mali K7, Luna Parc, and ORTM at the price of 1.500 FCFA. Amkoullel who already shared the Parisian scenes with Habib Koité, Lobi Traoré, Cheick Tidiane Seck and other talents like Keziah Jones, intends to offer to his fans a memorable spectacle in order to fill the emotional vacuum left in their heart during his absence. The Fulani Child will take advantage of the occasion to launch a new album, "Mali Fransi", realised with Malian, African, Jamaicans and French rappers (Doudou Masta, Abba, Diop, Fula, and Daddy Mory).

World Circuit widened its sphere of activity
The owner of World Circuit (company of production of Ali Farka Touré and Oumou Sangaré), Nick Gold is in Bamako since ten days. According to Sara Daou, his assistant to whom we talked to on the telephone, all the staff of the company is in Bamako not only to finish the recording of Mister the Mayor of Niafunke (Ali Farka Touré) but also to record the next album of the prince of Kora: Toumani Diabaté. The whole at the studio Bogolan with complicity of Yves Wernert.