The Last Song Before the War

Mali is regularly referred to as the home of pop music. West-African music has clear links with blues, country and folk. Except it has been played in Mali for centuries. The Festival au Désert has been organised since 2000 at the Essakane oasis, two hours from Timbuktu, as a symbol of peace between the Tuaregs (nomads) and the Malinese. It's a Tuareg custom to meet at agreed spots in the desert to refresh social contacts and make music. Musicians, visitors and organisers from all over arrive by plane, moped, van and camel. En route and in between performances they talk about West Africa and the festival: what it used to be like and what it is like now that Al-Qaeda has banned music. Musicians, visitors and documentary watchers enjoy every gig; a patchwork of cultures. Until Islamic militants and Tuareg rebels ban music and silence the festival.