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The music of Mali is dominated by forms derived from the ancient Mande Empire . The Mande people make up most of the country's population, and their musicians, professional performers called jeliw (sing. jeli, French griot, have produced a vibrant popular music scene alongside traditional folk music. Influences also come from the hundreds of ethnic groups surrounding Mali, as well as Moorish and European musical forms.
1 Mande music
The Mande people are divided into three groups based on language. They all claim descent from the legendary warrior Sunjata Keita, who founded the Mande Empire. The Maninka , Mandinka and Bamana languages are spoken in Mali and in parts of surrounding Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Senegal and The Gambia.
1.1 Bamana
Bamana-speaking peoples live in central Mali; the language is the most commonly-used one in Mali. Music is simple and unadorned, and pentatonic. Well-known Bamana performers include the first female musical celebrity, Fanta Damba . Damba and other Bamana (and Maninka) musicians in cities like BamakoBamako population 953,600 ( 2004), is the capital of Mali. It is located on the Niger River, in the southwestern part of the country. Bamako is the nation's administrative center, as well as a river port and a major regional trade center. Manufactures inc are known throughout the country for a style of guitarnylon strings. steel strings and more guide dots on the fretboard. A guitar is a stringed musical instrument played with the fingers or a plectrum ( guitar pick). The sound is produced by vibrating strings. Guitars have a body (which is hollow for acousti music called bajourou (named after an 18th century17th century 18th century 19th century more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 18th century refers to the century that lasted from 1701- 1800; however, historians will sometimes specifically refer to the 18th Century as 1715- 89, song glorifying ancient king Tutu Jara ).
1.2 Mandinka
The Mandinka live in Mali, The Gambia and Senegal and their music is influenced by their neighbors, especially the Wolof and Jola , two of the largest groups in Senegal. The koraString instruments The Kora is a 21 string harp used extensively by Mandingo Peoples in West Africa. It uses a large calabash as a resonator. Kora players have traditionally come from Griot Families (traditional entertainer and Narrators of stories) who p is the most popular instrument.
