The current crises in Mali

VFOM occasionally posts links to articles we think may help illuminate what is happening in Mali at this moment. We do not claim to endorse the content of these essays but share them for your information.

First is a link to our monthly newsletter, The Richmond Chiwara, where we cover topics about people from Mali and Virginia. You will find a Subscribe button there as well.

https://us20.campaign-archive.com/home/?u=3fc13b3ee64508366fa23697c&id=e398f1452d

The second link is to an essay written on Aug. 18th by our board member, Robin Edward Poulton, and published for TRANSCEND Network for Peace, Development and Environment.

https://www.transcend.org/tms/2020/08/mali-a-history-of-military-bullying-and-corporate-dependency/

The third and fourth links are to posts on a blog called Bridges From Bamako, written by Bruce Whitehouse, a former Peace Corps volunteer and Fulbright Scholar in Mali, who has blogged his views on Mali for many years. Here are two pieces he wrote on Aug. 19th and 22nd about the recent coup.

https://bridgesfrombamako.com/…/19/taking-it-to-the-streets/

https://bridgesfrombamako.com/2020/08/22/hands-off-my-junta/

And, as if human-made crises were not enough, devastating flooding has been taking its toll on vulnerably situated people since the annual rains began in June. "Flooding began in the country in July, affecting around 7,000 people. According to OCHA, as of 06 August, more than 13,200 people, including 5,400 internally displaced persons, were affected by floods in the country. The worst affected regions are Gao, Mopti, Ségou and Sikasso. A total of 1,160 homes have been destroyed."

http://floodlist.com/africa/mali-floods-update-august-2020

Comments

Bamana symbols on bogolan

Segou’s musical triumph in Richmond

Bassekou Kouyaté and Ami Sacko feted by Richmonders at the Richmond Folk Festival Mali’s famous orchestra NGONI BA was the Toast of the Town at the Richmond Folk Festival. Led by ngoni magician Bassekou Kouyaté and his vocalist wife Ami Sacko, the orchestra of seven Malian musicians wowed the crowd, and ended the Festival at fever pitch as three or four thousand fans danced the evening away at the Dominian Dance Pavilion on Brown’s Island Sunday night, October 16th. Kouyaté is an ancient musical name in Mali. At Sunday’s banjo workshop with four of Virginia’s banjo masters, Bassekou explained how he had learned to play the ngoni from his father and grandfather, and how his ancestors were playing music and sang the sovereign’s praises seven hundred years ago at the court of the original Lion King, Sunjata Keita. The Lion King founded the Malian Empire in the year 1235, and his legend became famous through the songs of his griot Balafasé Kouyaté, ancestor of Bassekou the le...

VFOM member visits AUPAP sites

1st Adjoint to the Mayor M. NIANG, (Segou), Dace (SCI), Adjoint (Segou), Dana (VFOM), Mayor O. SIMAGA (Segou) Our good friend and executive committee member Dana Wiggins left on August 19 and returns September 14 from her turn as AUPAP project monitor and defacto Richmond city ambassador to our twin city, Segou. Notre bon ami et membre du comité exécutif Dana Wiggins quitté le 19 août et retourne Septembre 14 à partir de son tour que AUPAP projet de surveiller et de facto ambassadeur de ville de Richmond a notre ville jumelle, Ségou. The following photos were taken in July and August and demonstrate that construction has been moving "full speed ahead" since funding and the rainy season arrived almost simultaneously. The Ségou contractors have been diligent and in spite of one wall collapse, Dana and Dace (Sister Cities International) have been able to confirm that a September c...

Virginia Friends of Mali

Search This Blog