Mali Blues
Directed by Lutz Gregor
Germany/Mali | French w/ English Subtitles | Documentary | 2016 | 95 min
Print source: Courtesy Icarus Films
Vermont Premiere
Mali Blues illustrates Mali’s rich musical culture. Alongside Fatoumata Diawara – the young shooting star of the global pop scene – we travel through breath-taking landscapes and discover Mali’s agitated heart from Bamako in the Southwest to the “Festival au Désert“ in northern Timbuktu. Diawara symbolizes a young generation of African women: energetic, strong-minded, confident and politically engaged. She is dedicated to unify all artists spread throughout Mali who feel threatened by sharia and want to defend their right to music as a human right against religious militants.
Mali Blues also depicts the roots of Afro-American blues and jazz. Through the songs, we get to know the artists’ hopes and dreams as well as their daily sorrows. Whoever tries to take the music from Mali rips out this country’s heart.
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