Mali hosted Festival Acoustik after Jihadist terror attacks as a sign of recovery, and as a big and justified ‘fuck you’ to extremists.
The Radisson Blu HotelΒ in the Mali capital of Bamako fell victim to an unfortunate terror attack by jihadists on November 20, plunging the country into a state of emergency. Two months after the incident, in an attempt to revive theirΒ country’s cultural fame, the city organized a festival with some of theΒ biggest names in African and world music.
Dubbed Festival Acoustik, the event was organized by popularΒ Malian musician Toumani Diabate. The lineup featured international acts like Damon Albarn of Blur, Songhoy Blues and several African idols including Nigerian drummer Tony Allen.
βItβs very important for me, for us, to get Malian culture going,β Diabate told The Telegraph. βYou see Mali is the heart of culture in Africa.β Festival Acoustik brought a breath of fresh air to the city as the country has been under a nationwide state of emergency after aΒ three-month extension at the end of last year. The emergency, which will be lifted on March 31, did not hinder the musicians from playing nor did it stopΒ the people from attending the 4 day fest.
βI was invited on this occasion, so thatβs even more special, really, to sort of be invited back,β AlbarnΒ said in an interview with AFP. βIβm fascinated by it. Itβs very tangible to me because of the music and the value of the music.β
Festival Acoustik and the return of the Eagles Of Death Metal to France after the Paris attacks was an announcement that musicians are not backing down.Β In times such as these, music and art are perfectΒ to ease and express tensions that send a much moreΒ powerful message than the act of terror.Β
Check out some of the festival performances here :