Mali's good vibrations

As thousands of relatively dry Glastonbury revellers return home, some set their sights on the next headliner at Wiltshire’s WOMAD, and for others - Africa, where even the most seasoned festival-goer would be hard pushed not to be impressed at the musical vibrations emanating from Mali’s Sounds of the Sahara.

Discover life on the road with Dragoman Overland’s 21-day musical journey from Bamako, timed to coincide with Mali’s annual 4-day musical ‘must-sees’ – choose from Essakane’s Festival of the Desert, or Segou’s Festival on the Niger - both showcasing West Africa’s best musicians and artists. Tours depart Bamako 26th December (XFD19) 2008 and 16th January (XFD29) 2009 respectively.

Mali has produced some of Africa’s finest musicians and holds a long tradition of tribal music. Today the traditional fuses with the modern and Bamako’s venues headline many of Mali’s internationally acclaimed talents, including such giants as Salif Keita and Ali Farka Toure. The main focus of the tour is Segou’s Festival on the Niger on the shores of the Niger River, or the Sahara’s Essakane and Festival of the Desert - where for 3-days once a year, the country’s musical and cultural talent converge. Enjoy performances from a host of Malian and international musicians, dancers, puppeteers and storytellers - West Africa’s most important artistic expositions.

Dragoman Overland’s journey also explores one of Mali’s most unusual tribal cultures during a 3-day trek through Dogon lands on the Bandigara Escarpment. Here, travellers experience village mask dances, the rhythms of Dogon drumming and the remarkable origins of their Sirius B (the Dogstar) worshipping beliefs. Elsewhere, a 3-day river boat voyage up the Niger explores the river’s inland delta and takes travellers to the remote desert settlement of Timbuktu. Here, amongst dusty tea-shops and simple restaurants, Dragoman seek out authentic Tuareg jamming sessions for more memorable sounds.

Further highlights include the thriving river port of Mopti and the frenetic markets of Djenne, with its famous mosque – the world’s largest mud structure. The tour concludes back in Bamako with one last chance to hit Rue Dafake and the live bands at top venue, Le Hogon.

The Sounds of the Sahara tour costs £850 plus kitty USD$830 (~£418) including transport aboard Dragoman Overland’s expedition truck, camping accommodation, all camp meals and expert guiding. (see festivalsegou.org or festival-au-desert.org for festival details).

For more information and bookings, visit Dragoman.com.