Malian singer Fatoumata Diawara (also here) has assembled more than 40 of Mali's most acclaimed musicians to produce this song, a call for a peaceful, unified Mali. It may seem contradictory that despite the unity theme, the song is plainly pointed in opposition to the northern Islamists. The lyrics criticize the northerners directly, accusing them of wanting to impose Sharia law and mistreating women.
The answer (I gather) is that while there is indeed some historic disunity between north and south (or north and everywhere else) in Mali, these Islamists (Jihadists?) based in the north are not really of Mali and these outsiders are indeed trying to impose a strict brand of Sharia law that the locals don't actually want:
Mali has been in crisis since last January, when Tuaregs in northern Mali began a separatist uprising, newly invigorated by an influx of fighters and weapons from Libya after the fall of Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi.
A military coup by junior officers angry at how the government responded to the Tuareg uprising followed in March, leaving the country in disarray and hastening the loss of its northern half to insurgents. Islamist groups, some with links to Al Qaeda, quickly pushed aside the secular Tuareg militants, taking over northern towns and imposing their strict interpretation of Shariah law.
The fighters appeared to find little support among the local population, who said the harsh version of Islam they sought to impose had little resemblance to the moderate faith practiced by most people here.
I admit, I was mostly interested in the video because it had a list of artist names that I could Google. It was only in trying to understand what they were singing about that I started to sort through the finer points of the back story. I appreciate any further insights you can share.
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Glad to see this highlighted. If you want a well-informed take on this song and on the cultural ramifications, you need to check out this blog run by an anthropologist and former Peace Corps volunteer.
The recent events in Mali have been pretty poorly explained to those in the English-speaking world and in America even more so. To put it simply, the country has been invaded by a foreign, militant force (Al Qaeda affiliates who come from Algeria, Tunisia, Libya and many other places) who hijacked a long-running strand of unhappiness between one ethnic group (the Tuareg) and everyone else in the country. This conflict is NOT a civil war. It's a war of aggression that has threatened thousands of innocent Malians. France's recent intervention was required to halt the certain collapse of the entire state into the hands of these foreign extremist elements, and Malians are overwhelmingly supportive of the French engagement.
It should be stressed that "the North" is not a monolithic or mono-ethnic area. It does not "belong" to the Tuareg and never has. In fact, they make up less than a third of the population, with the Sonhrai and Peul peoples also residing there for centuries. That said, Malian culture has a strong sense of community, tolerance and unity. And also a vibrant and rich musical tradition. If this is your first exposure to Malian music, you are in for a real treat as you explore all the great artists that are out there. You might take this listening tour with Teju Cole from the WaPo for more recommendations.
Also, this article in FP is a must-read for a nuanced take on the entire situation.
Can't add anything of use about the strife in Mali, but I can recommend that everyone here should rush out and get a copy of Fatoumata Diawara's 2011 cd "Fatou"! She is an amazing musician and it's a brilliant album. You will love it.
I love the music and mali muso's comments above. I have been following news about Mali for over a year, even before the overthrow of the government and the aborted elections of last spring.
The artists have come together in support of Malian traditions -- directly speaking out against the warring insurgents and FOR the preservation or maintenance of the Malian cultural identity. That is a conservative stance.
Mali muso acknowledges the Malian culture is built around community and unity, but also tolerance. But tolerance for what? Tolerance, in every case still has bounds. It is most clear that Malians in general will not tolerate these insurgents who want to impose Sharia law -- a new way of life -- on the Malian people. I agree, and it is a conservative view.
Here in the United States there are some (mostly Conservatives) who speak out for preservation of traditional principles they feel need to be upheld if our cultural identity is to be preserved. While they are tolerant of many views, most would focus on common language, industriousness, independence, and freedom.