ALI FARKA TOURE, MAYOR OF NIAFUNKE
From the scene to the political arena

He is famous, talented and very committed. He has just been elected mayor of Niafunke, a city of the north of Mali. Ali Farka Touré has passed another decisive step in his engagement in favour of the socio-economic development of his city. To do it, the bluesman with the international notoriety did not hesitate to cross the great step which often separates the artistic scene from the political background.

Music leads to everything! One is tempted to think that if he refers to the experience of Ali Farka Touré. Between the musical scene and the political arena, there is a great step that the bluesman of the desert did not hesitate to cross. Indeed, he has been just elected mayor of Niafunké (area of Timbuktu), his town of adoption. For the communal elections of last May 30th, the Union for the Republic and Democracy (URD, founded in 2003 by a dissident wing of the “Adema” which directed Mali from 1992 to 2002) had staked on the popularity of the holder of the Grammy Awards 1995 to place him at the head of its list in this locality. A paying strategy because the list of the dissidents of the Adema won in Niafunké. They had a crushing majority (9 out of 16 town councillors).
A success which was foreseeable because Ali denies the proverb which wants that no one is a king at home. His popularity is not only due to the success of his international career, but also to the fact that great the bluesman invested a lot in this locality. He arranged there about ten hectares for rice growing, truck farming and ranching. An investment which drew much young people from idleness and contributed to the socio-economic development of a locality which suffered from the drought and was a long time abandoned to this sad fate. And since his official retirement from the international musical scene, in 1999, Ali Farka seldom leaves Niafunké.
But, thanks to the investments and the plea of Ali, Niafunké is crossing a decisive step towards food self-sufficiency and the socio-economic blooming of its populations. It is clear that the choice of the URD was not fortuitous because, with the bluesman-peasant as leader, its victory was inevitable in Niafunké. Let us guarantee that other committed artists will follow the example of Ali Farka Touré during next years so that the country will leave the political monotony and know an effective management of its richnesses.

Issa Bagayogo
Issa Bagayogo returned from Malaysia where he was for a festival. According to the echoes, the artist remained on stage only about twenty minutes because the crowd of fans assaulted the scene. Issa and his band were obliged to stop. The next album of the man of Korin is awaited for September 2004, no doubt that Issa will go back on the Asian scenes for the promotion of this opus.

Les Escrocs
The band “Les Escrocs” arrived from their European tour. In our next deliveries, we will forward to you the echoes of this tour of the kings of Mandingo Rap.

The festival of the desert, the candidatures flow
Since its creation, the Festival of the Desert is a huge success throughout the world. Despite the few small problems of organisation, the Management of the Festival is submerged by the requests for inscription for the edition 2005. This just goes to show that the music is a product which sells the image of Mali well.

Mali Fransi, the new opus of AMKOULLEL
Mali Fransi is the title of the album of the Fulani child. A mixtape composed, arranged, recorded and mixed by TIGER & DRAGON for ZEMTSOV connection and Brutal John in 2004, masterized by Mathieu Rouxel. The mixtape is different from a compilation because the titles do not come from albums of various artists. These titles are in general remixes of known or unknown titles. Produced by the DJ, the mixtape is the laboratory of the music Hip hop; it allows to discover young talents and to test new sonorities.
The one of Amkoullel unites several nationalities among which Malians, French, inhabitant of Martinique, Guyanese, Ivorians, Spanish people, Cameroonians.

Producers in anger!
The Producers of sound records raised the tone during their general assembly of July 13th, 2004 at the head office of the association located in Quinzambougou. Following the artists, the Producers of the musical works drew up a dark assessment at semi course of the exercise. "Piracy of the musical works represents more than 99% in Mali, everyone speaks about it but nobody acts. We waited too much, now we will create a brigade of struggle against piracy and we will act in legality." These remarks are from the President of the Association of the Producers of Phonograms of Mali. "As soon as one speaks about Dabanani, it’s as if Dabanani is in foreign territory.
We will prove the contrary to those who preach this dialogue. The Malian office of the authors’ rights says to us that they have no means but we will prove to them that it is rather a question of will." Mr Yattassaye continues. A mobile brigade will occupy the ground all the time necessary to give the counterpart to the pirates. That is the ambition of the association of the Producers of Phonograms of Mali. In any case a light brigade made up of three people and which have the role of succeeding where the Malian Office of the authors’ rights failed. A difficult bet to hold but with brave heart, there is nothing impossible, especially that the Producers want to erase any ambiguity on their alleged adhesion to piracy. Let us wait to see!