Fatoumata Diawara

"Wake up! We are losing Mali! We are losing our culture, our tradition, our origin, our roots!" . Fatoumata Diawara's smoky-sweet voice was one of those that rang out in protest at the fundamentalist takeover of Northern Mali in 2012. . Singer-songwriter, actor and multiple Grammy nominee, Fatoumata was born to Malian parents in Ivory Coast, and in her teens fled Bamako to eventually live in Paris. . With her use of the electric guitar with traditional West African beats and sounds, she is one of the artistes thanks to whom many of us are now familiar with Touareg music. . On her emotional connect to Mali and its music, she says "Every aunt in my village, they sing only for themselves, for weddings, for spiritual reasons. The melodies are different from jazz, but the roots are right there." . I decided to give this Malian look a playful Indian twist, with a Kanjivaram sari, Assamese scarf and my favourite Malnad beads. Thank you @sithara_kudige for introducing me to them!

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