Virginia Friends of Mali

4pm - Open House: Storytelling Artifacts & Photo exhibits Video footage of the Festival Sur le Niger Book Signing of our first publication Djita, a Malian Girl Born in Virginia Light refreshments 7pm - Presentation “About VFOM” Join VFOM! Celebrate sister cities, cutural exchange, and friendship! PLEASE RSVP! Email us! virginiafriendsofmali@gmail.com If you cannot come, become a member, and  consider donating to one of our many programs.

Completed! These are photos of all four AUPAP project sites in Segou. Som

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...

     Virginia Friends of Mali  wish a Happy Birthday  to the Independent  Republic  of   MALI !   Un peuple   Un but   Une foi  51 Years Young,  Strong, Gifted  and  Determined ! Amis   du Mali   en Virginie  souhaiter un joyeux anniversaire  à   la  République  indépendante  du   MALI !   Un peuple   U n but   Une   foi  51 ans  J eune, Fort , Doué et D éterminé !