Music 101's Emma Smith spoke with world renowned ngoni player Bassekou Kouyate ahead of WOMAD 2013. Kouyate was a good friend of the ousted Malian president Amadou Toumani Toure. Kouyate is from Mali's capital Bamaoko.
In 2012 Toure - Mali's democratically elected president, was ousted in a coup over his handling of increased rebel activity in the North of the country. The following months saw increased violence and heavy fighting in the North, as well as the implementation of strict Sharia Law which, alongside violent punishments, enforced a ban on music.
