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Kora magic
The kora is one of Mali's traditional musical instruments. In this video, we're lucky to have experts who can show us how this wonderful instrument is made and played.
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Following the river
Much of Mali is taken up by desert or the semi-arid land which forms part of the Sahel region. But agriculture thrives in the south and along the River Niger.
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Relying on cotton
Most of Mali’s population work in agriculture, particularly in the fertile areas along the River Niger and in the region of Sikasso, with its high rainfall. Cotton is grown as the main export crop and farmers rely on a good harvest.
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A poor country
Mali is a key exporter of cotton and gold. But it is still a very poor country, with over half the population living below the poverty line.
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A young population
Children (under 18) make up two-fifths of Mali’s population. Find more country facts here.
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La méchanceté de la marâtre
Some of the children at the SOS Children’s Village in Sanankoroba took part in a film-making workshop. The film they created is not your usual story with a happy ending.
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A heavy workload
Life in Mali can be hard, particularly for the country’s women who bear much of the workload. But there is no shortage of good humour or enjoyment of each other’s company.
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Dramatic scenery
Mali boasts some truly dramatic scenery, from the rolling sands of the Sahara desert in the north to the spectacular mountains, cliffs and plateaux of the south.
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Ancient kingdoms
The Mali and Songhai Empires were powerful ancient kingdoms in this region of Africa, long before the arrival of the Moroccans and then the French. Independent since 1960, Mali is now a stable republic with a full democracy.
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Low rates of literacy
Due to widespread poverty in Mali, many children do not attend school and less than half of young people can read and write.
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Explore Mali
Learn more about some of the most important places and features of Mali.
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A loving mother
Sekou was brought up with his SOS brothers and sisters in the SOS Children’s Village of Sanankoroba. He's grateful for the love and support of his SOS mother, as well as the opportunities he's been given in life.
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A rich history
Over 30 African languages are spoken in Mali by the different groups of people. Some of these groups can trace their history back over 500 years to the region’s ancient empires.
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Reaching a good age
With poor medical care and high rates of malnutrition and disease, Malians do well to reach old age.
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A natural oil
Karité trees grow in many parts of Mali and provide an important source of revenue for local women. The trees bear nuts which are rich in oil. This oil is used to make a natural ingredient used in cosmetics around the world – shea butter.
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Glorious mud
Ancient towns, such as Timbuktu, and traditional mud-built villages provide visitors with a rich experience of the country’s history, architecture and culture.
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Welcome to Mali. My name's Bobo.
Through our videos, we've tried to give you some idea of what life is like in and around Bamako. For example, cotton is very important here, as are the nuts from karité trees. Kola nuts are also highly valued. Take a look at some of the local produce, as well as other sights and sounds from our region.
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Mud miniatures
At the open air museum in Bamako, miniature building replicas have been created to show examples of Mali's famous mud architecture. But the beautiful park surroundings seem to be a bigger attraction for local youngsters.
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Nuts for a boost
High in caffeine, kola nuts give a quick energy boost when chewed. Since ancient times, they've been used as tokens of friendship and respect.
