Cultural danger
The grasshopper invasion is today a major concern of the Malian people and government. The threat of food insecurity is so important that the entire nation mobilized to help the victims of the disaster zones. The partners to the development did not remain in the background. A mobilization that can arouse jealousy of the other locusts’ victims: the artists! Since decades, the Malian artists are victims of the "grasshoppers" (pirate) that unceasingly devastate their fields full of promises. Is there any artist who is not victim today of this invasion? No! From the best to the less ones!
The artists, the producers, the cultural companies alerted the decision makers in vain. No help was hastened to help them. For want of an operational "PC", they would however be satisfied with unexpected and spontaneous commando missions against those insatiable grasshoppers. If the locusts constitute "a weapon of massive destruction", piracy too. Because they have a common noxiousness: to deprive people of their harvest.
The grasshoppers’ danger showed that nothing resists the mobilization of a nation. No plague can survive the determination of the authorities and the engagement of the people. Against the grasshoppers that deprive them of the fruits of their hard labour, the artists, producers… do not need billion to be socially protected. They only need political good-will and popular mobilization. With a real political good-will, they would get rid of these voracious grasshoppers.
A real will supposes more rigour in the delivery of the importation authorization, in the control of the importations and more regularity in the raids; thus more effectiveness from the Malian Office of royalties (BUMDA), from the safety forces (police and county constabulary), and from customs and services of Trade and Competition. There is no doubt that if the ministries of Safety, Economy and Finances as of Culture stand together today, the invasion of piracy will be overcome without external assistance. Just like if all the music lovers decide to boycott the products fraudulently collected in the "fields" of the artists and others entitled beneficiaries, the pirates should change activity.
Alas! Nobody is concerned with fate of these locusts’ victims which come to flout them with paperboards full of "larvae" (cassettes, CD, etc.). We can think that the music lovers and the authorities are accomplices of this cultural and artistic plundering. The fate of the artists does not move anybody any more as if music lover and decision makers had get on together to deliver them to the locusts. Victims since decades of the invasion of "human locusts", the artists, producers, distributors… have only their talent, their will and their courage today to denounce this discrimination.
When will the Malian authorities decide to sound the general mobilization against the "pirate-grasshoppers"? Ensured of the impunity and sure of their power of corruption, pirate never miss idea to definitively ruin the musical industry of Mali. This final attack is prepared in the shade of the insufficiencies of the present legislation. Poor artists who are obliged to emigrate in other countries to manage to live of their talent.
King Moseto

Tata Pound
The band Tata Pound is back to the fold after their stay in the capital of Burkina Faso where they took part in the international festival "OUAGA HIP HOP" which took place on October 12 and 16, 2004. For this fourth edition, it has invited all the stars of the African hip hop. Djoro J of Niger, PBS Beag D and Alif of Senegal, H2O of Benin and Tata Pound of Mali. According to our sources, the festival was successful. Roll on the next edition!

Lobi Traoré
Lobi Traoré and his band have just ended a tour in France. It was in the framework of the international promotion of his “best of” which is on sale since last September. The Bambara blues maker made a wonderful concert at the new morning on October 11, 2004.This tour mark the beginning of the return of Lobi Traoré on the international scene.

Adama Yalomba
Invited to the Womex (World Music Expo), Adama did a master stroke. In Düsseldorf, the king of the Yalomba seduced the public by his talent and elegance. His performance was not unnoticed and Matoma Production (management of Adama, Issa Bagayoko and Afel Bocoum) is totally satisfied and wait impatiently the repercussions of this remarkable performance. Let’s not that Adama Yalomba and his musicians have reedited the same wonder at the French art centre of Bamako.

Sékouba Bambino
The international Guinean Bambino celebrates his 15 years of solo carrier. For this occasion, the ambassador of the Guinean cross intends to invite in Conakry the greatest stars of the African music. Moreover, he has just ended the recording of his next album which releasing date will coincide with his birthday. On this album, Bambino praises Bamako with the track "Bamako jolie den". You’ll certainly hear extracts of this opus on the radios in the next few days.

Maicher B
Maicher B (the wise toaster of rabbaboyz) will be on concert the day of the feast of the Ramadan at the “Carrefour des jeunes” of Bamako starting from 16 o’clock. It will be the great communion of the rappers. The reservations can be done at the “Carrefour des jeunes” and at the ORTM. Do not miss the first apparition of Maicher B.

Mariam Koko Dembélé
Fasten your belt, she’s coming. Her name is Mariam Koko Dembélé, she’s the daughter of Koko Dembélé, she has just ended the recording of her first album. She’s full of talent, she’s beautiful and charming and she will upset the hierarchy. Soon on the radios.

King Massassi and Ledieuduçoleil
King Massassi and Ledieuduçoleil are in France since two weeks because they were invited by the famous rapper Kwal. According to our sources, everything is going on very well. The concets will end in Paris at the Elysée Montmartre where Amkoullel will be invited.

Issa Bagayogo
The man of Korin, Issa Bagayoko in going on climbing in the “world Music charts” of Europe. Issa Bagayoko occupies the third place before the Guinean Mory Kanté (5th place) whose album “Sabou” is on sale in Europe since last October.