Mali, situated in the heart of Western Africa, is often regarded as the cradle of today’s Blues and Jazz. For centuries music has strengthened Mali’s cultural identity, musicians are holding strong positions in society. Following Fatoumata Diawara, the young shooting star of the global pop scene, MALI BLUES is a musical journey, discovering the country’s rich musical culture and it’s threat by radical Islamists. On our way we meet other committed musicians, who are fighting for unity and the freedom to express themselves through their music, like world famous Ngoni player and traditional Griot Bassekou Kouyaté, street rapper Master Soumy and Tuareg band leader Ahmed Ag Kaedi.

MALI BLUES
A Film by Lutz Gregor

with Fatoumata Diawara, Ahmed Ag Kaedy, Bassekou Kouyaté, Master Soumi
Director of Photography: Axel Schneppat
Sound Engineer: Pascal Capitolin
Editing Markus: CM Schmidt, Michelle Barbin
Production Manager Mali: Bärbel Mauch
Supervising Producer: Kerstin Meyer Beetz
Produced by: Christian Beetz
Commisioning editor ZDF/ arte: Tobias Cassau

German Version