Before the coup d’état that overthrew an elected government, before the French-led war to oust Islamist rebels who had taken over much of the country, Mali was perhaps best known internationally for ...

In 2012, an armed jihadist group known as Ansar Dine took control of northern regions of Mali, sparking a civil war. In areas it controlled, the group ordered a ban on cigarettes, alcohol and music.

In Mali, music was once silenced by extremists, but some refused to stop. Now they are rebuilding, keeping traditional sounds alive, and helping the next generation rise through rhythm.

SOAS, University of London provides funding as a member of The Conversation UK. The untimely death of Mali’s Toumani Diabaté at the age of 58 has shocked the music world. The sheer number of tributes, ...