The two candidates are Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta (Rally for Mali) and Soumaïla Cissé (URD - Union for the Republic and Democracy). You can follow the voting process for today's polling on Mali Vote 2013, http://malivote.com . So, here's a little music from the VFOM Mali INdependence Day celebration from 2012. Cheick Hamala Diabate and his band and dancer lit up the VCU Commons Ballroom that night! CHD's full band returns to Richmond on Friday, Sep. 20, to perform for the Women, War and Peace Conference. Special guest artists include Malian griotte Aissata Diabate and local Hotel X sax player, Tim Harding. This is video one of two. Click the Culture tab above to see both.
VIRGINIA FRIENDS OF MALI creates and promotes educational and cultural pathways to understanding and cooperation between the peoples of the West African nation of Mali and the state of Virginia, USA. LES AMIS DU MALI EN VIRGINIE crée et promeut des voies éducatives et culturelles favorisant la compréhension et la coopération entre les peuples du Mali, pays d'Afrique de l'Ouest, et de l'État de Virginie, USA.