Virginia Friends of Mali

Les 10 journalistes de Radio Sikoro- six a gauche, quatre a droit. The 10 journalists of Radio Sikoro - six on the left, four on the right.  Five finalists (Soummou , Marie , Saran , Massitan , Safiatou)  held a writing conference, a round table in the studio on the theme, "influence of social networks on girls." They went on camera one by one to introduce themselves and describe their motivations.  Today, Andee, Cameron and their Bamako-based assistant, Erika Pomerance (standing in the photo), announced the three finalists:  Marie , Saran , et Massitan!  They said it was difficult to leave anyone out! This group of three will work together until Saturday at noon, when their team leader will be announced as the WRIR intern. Remember, though the intern will travel, all the young women will benefit and are excited about the projects they would like to take on with their new skills.

Virginia Friends of Mali invites you to plan your 2017 gift to support our mission through two projects: Project CURE In 2016, $25,000 was raised to send $450,000 worth of materiel that has JUST ARRIVED IN Segou!  Project CURE cargo containers of hospital and medical supplies were shipped in December and arrived the last week of January in Segou (Richmond's sister city since 2009). The destination was L’Hôpital Niankoro Fomba and one of its associated community healthcare centers. Segou's sister city committee president, M Madani Sissoko, was on hand with hospital director, Dr. Abdoulaye Sanogo, to accept delivery of the materiel. In partnership with Rotary Club partners in the US and Mali, we are raising funds to send a second container this year. We have commitments for $15,000 and need your help to raise the remaining $10,000. Two anonymous donors have so far pledged $500 each. Perhaps you'll join them! 2017 Goal: $10,000    Raised: $1,000    Rema...

FREE performance by the amazing kora player PAPA SUSSO! with the renowned balafon (African xylophone) player BALLA KOUYATE! Papa Susso: Kora Music from the Gambia. Wednesday, November 18th, 7:30 pm. FREE. University of Richmond, Weinstein International Center.

Peace Baba (real name Oumar Cissé) is the most famous bead person in Mali. His nickname comes from the fact that he used, for more than 20 years, to take care of Peace Corps volunteers in Mopti Region, whose 'vacation house' was right next to his shop: Farafina Tigne is the name of his museum/shop and the website is fabulously extensive, including a decent travelogue description of the country's major towns and features of interest to tourists. Peace Baba has moved from his small store on the island that is Mopti town, to a larger store in Sevaré beside the main paved Great North Road. Here he has a museum of beads and crafts upstairs, and a fantastic bead shop downstairs. Peace Corps Baba (Baba - Father) is a great man with a magnetic personnality and communicatable English. His beads are SO WORTH WHILE (and such good value). Some Malian beads are 5000 years old. Some were made when Jesus Christ was alive. Some are made from the bones of fish or the nuts of t...

2015 Best World Music Album NOMINEE:  Toumani Diabaté et Sidiki Diabaté Album: Toumani et Sidiki http://www.toumaniandsidiki.com/ http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=K8nyjsDj-Is WINNER Angelique Kidjo Album:  Eve Click to read more about her 2nd Grammy win! OTHER NOMINEES Wu Man, Luis Conte & Daniel Ho Album:  Our World In Song Sergio Mendes Album: Magic Anoushka Shankar Album:  Traces Of You

http://www.mediasanctuary.org/OumarKonate Malian music permeates! intubates! laminates! vibrates! illuminates! creates!  Saturday, May 24 at 10pm Malian guitarist Oumar Konate will perform with his band. Graybeard from WRIR 97.3 FM will spin hot Afro dance tunes. Click here to visit the Facebook event page and read the comments! for example: "Oumar Konate and his band were Incredible!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"