Sekouba Bambino Diabate - Ka Souma Man

September 22/Mali -- On this date in 1960, the Republic of Mali was established soon after the French colonial power had been thrown out of the region. A large, landlocked country in northwest Africa, Mali sports one of the continents most ethnically and musically diverse societies. It has long been common for African musicians to transfer performance techniques from traditional instruments to modern instruments such as the electric guitar and electric bass -- for the musicians of other countries this often means disposing with the original instrument, but in Mali it is far more routine to blend the old with the new during performances. This has given birth to a sound that is unique to Mali -- one which combines modern influences with a firm sense of tradition. A fine example of this combination, one among countless fascinating musical treasures, is the hit from 1994, Ka Souma Man, performed by the singer Sekouba Bambino Diabate. With the traditional balafon and kora, a wooden xylophone and a cross between a harp and lute respectively, performing alongside the electric guitar and electric bass, it is typical of the "old meets new" aesthetic found in Malian music.