Comments on: Music in Northern Mali is Silenced by Islamist Extremists

By: Nyakairu

Nyakairu — Fri, 24 Aug 2012 21:48:00 +0000

Just because you claim to have deep roots in Mali doesn’t make you an expert on Mali. Some of us are just as knowledgeable, if not more, about the causes and effects buffeting the country.

By: Paul Batlan

Paul Batlan — Fri, 24 Aug 2012 16:45:00 +0000

Heartache. The Music of Mali is trully a universal language. Music is the common language that binds all persons on this planet. Fundamentalism of any stripe destroys our potential as a species. It is clear in the 21st century the only way forward for human cultural development is total separation of church and state. Here at home forces are at work trying to extinguish independent voices like NPR that bring us these sounds and today this sad story. Keep the voices and airwaves free to speak to soothe our souls.

By: moderniste

moderniste — Fri, 24 Aug 2012 01:04:00 +0000

I read your informative website, and while I appreciate the political complexities that have thrown Mali into its current state, I think it’s very foolish to overlook the disgusting crimes committed by those religious zealots in charge of the theocratic Shariah states. Fundamentalists of all religions, but especially Christianity and Islam, are fanatically obsessed with being the only “right” belief system, with horrific crimes against humanity for anyone who does not submit to their “leadership”. The priests and despots in control of a society with Shariah law are the true definition of psychopaths, so great is their hatred of humanity. Mali’s cultural loss is deplorable, and I wish that the ban of music and art alone was enough to incite and unite the people to a revolution against Shariah and those who wish to continue its reign.

By: Nyakairu

Nyakairu — Fri, 24 Aug 2012 00:12:00 +0000

Which planet do you live on?

By: Janet Goldner

Janet Goldner — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 20:16:00 +0000

What’s going on in the North has nothing to do with religion and everything to do with oil.

By: Janet Goldner

Janet Goldner — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 20:11:00 +0000

I just returned from a 6 week fact finding trip to Mali where I have deep roots. We, in the West, are fed a diet of stories
of the horrible situation in the north of Mali. At the
same time the US and the international community refuses recognize the current transition govt and help it chase those “armed men” out! It isn’t that the democracy in Mali collapsed in a matter of hours. There never was a democracy in Mali, only a corruption machine expert in making donors believe there was a democracy. Why this continuing misinformation? Shame on you. I have been writing about the crisis in Mali: http://www.janetgoldner.com/site/mali-coup/

By: Nyakairu

Nyakairu — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 20:07:00 +0000

If it were up to religious institutions, they would not only kill the music, they would silence anyone who didn’t kowtow to their primitive beliefs.

By: Kacie Brunette

Kacie Brunette — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 20:03:00 +0000

I was brought to tears by how y’all closed the show today, her voice can’t be heard in her hometown so let it be heard on our airwaves. Beautiful! Thank you!