In 1883, Mali became a French colony and was known as French Sudan. In 1959, Mali and Senegal merged to form the Mali Federation, which gained independence from France on 20 June 1960. Senegal broke away from the union after a few months and the Republic of Mali was born, after which it withdrew from the French Community on 22 September 1960.
Mali is renowned for its blend of traditional and contemporary music. The traditional music is based on the songs of the jalis, a distinct caste in Mali’s social structure. Indigenous instruments include the Kamal Ngoni, a six-string guitar and the Djembe, a deer-hide drum. The traditional attire for men is a long embroidered robe called boubou while women traditionally cover their hair.
Mali is a landlocked country in West Africa, bordered by Algeria, Niger, Burkina Faso, Cote d'Ivoire, Guinea, Senegal and Mauritania. Most of its terrain is flat, rising towards the sand-covered rolling plains in the north. The Niger River in the south is surrounded by savannah. The Adrar des Ifoghas lies in the northeast. The northern parts of the country lie in the Sahara Desert; together desert and semi-desert areas cover 70% of Mali.
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| Cities: Vacations and Tourism |
| Bamako |
Djenne |
Niono |
| Segou |
Timbuktu |
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