Mali, West Africa

 The West African State of Mali is one of the 20 poorest nations in the world. Though financially very poor, this beautiful country is socially, historically, culturally and musically very rich.  

The Sudanese Republic and Senegal became independent of France in
September 1960 as the Mali Federation. When Senegal withdrew shortly afterwards, the former Sudanese Republic was renamed Mali.
Rule by dictatorship was brought to a close in 1991, enabling
Mali's emergence as one of the strongest democracies on the African continent.
Mali has been at peace since 1996, after a Tuareg revolt from 1991 -1996. After further sporadic rebel activities in 2007- 2009, a final
 Peace Treaty was signed in March 2009.

  Most of the population of about 12 million are
  located in the more fertile southern region of
  the country ; the vast Northern area is mostly
  desert / Sahel. There are people of many
  different descent groups in Mali; the
  majority (50%) are Mande, (=Bambara,
  Malinke, Soninke), Peul (17%), Voltaic
    (12%) & Songhai (6%).
  Tuareg & Moors comprise ~10%.