CULTURAL POLITICS IN THE POST-COLONY: MUSIC, NATIONALISM AND STATISM IN MALI, 1964–75

• Published in: Africa (London. 1928) Vol. 82; no. 4; pp. 511 - 534
• Main Author: Skinner, Ryan Thomas
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge, UK Cambridge University Press 01-11-2012
• Subjects: Africa; African culture; African history; African music; Analysis; Big bands; Civilization; Cognitive problems, arts and sciences, folk traditions, folklore; Countries; Culture; Ethnology; Ethnomusicology; Juncture; Motels; Music; Music and the Nation; Musical aesthetics; Musical performance; Musicians; Nationalism; Occupations; Orchestras; Political aspects; Political authority; Political science; Politics; Popular culture; Postcolonial societies; Postcolonialism; Praise songs; Social aspects; Social organization, political organization and power, relations with the State; Social relations. Intercultural and interethnic relations. Collective identity; Social structure and social relations; Sovereignty; Statism; Postcolonial period; Mali; West Africa; Membership; Professional career; Nationalism; Cultural policy; Music; Instrumental ensemble
• ISSN: 0001-9720; 1750-0184
• DOI: 10.1017/S0001972012000484

This article examines the shifting experience of national belonging and state patronage at a crucial juncture in Mali's post-colonial history, the ten-year period that marked the end of the country's First Republic (1960–8) and the beginning of its Second Republic (1968–91). My focus is on the contested politics of culture that characterized this period, elucidated through the experiences and expressions of two popular dance bands, Las Maravillas de Mali and Les Ambassadeurs du Motel. By following the post-colonial careers of Las Maravillas and Les Ambassadeurs I explore social and musical encounters with national community and state authority from which broader questions of political sovereignty and accountability emerge. Cet article examine l'expérience changeante d'appartenance nationale et de patronage d’État à un moment crucial de l'histoire postcoloniale du Mali, à savoir la décennie qui marqua la fin de la première République du pays (1960–1968) et le début de sa seconde (1968–1991). Il s'intéresse à la politique de culture contestée qui a caractérisé cette période, à travers les expériences et les expressions de deux groupes de danse populaire, Las Maravillas de Mali et Les Ambassadeurs du Motel. En suivant les carrières postcoloniales de Las Maravillas et des Ambassadeurs, l'article examine les démêlés sociaux et musicaux avec la communauté nationale et l'autorité de l'État, dont émergent des questions plus larges de souveraineté et de responsabilité politiques.