Stop Excision
People have tried all kinds of ways to convince parents to resist the pressure of custom and put the interests of their girls first. The recording Stop Excision is a key tool used by Project Stop Excision to educate and raise awareness of the devastating consequences of female genital mutilation (FMG) and the movement underway to stop it. Not too many people have the courage to say that they are against the practice, and often when they do, other family members take it upon themselves to continue the tradition. But these famous artists have been singing out on the subject for the last few years, and this is making it easier for people to express their reservations about the practice, which causes emotional and health problems throughout the whole life of many excised women. This is a fine compilation of Malian music, spanning griot pop by such luminaries as Ami Koita and Kandia Kouyate (in photo), pentatonic balafon maestro Neba Solo, and the deep voiced sage of Wassoulou music, Coumba Sidibe. There is also intriguing work by lesser known artists, such as a beautiful acoustic piece sung in Pulaar by Aly Baaba Cissé¬ and a hip, swaggering Bambara-folk-hip-hop track by Adama Namakoro Fomba. The National Instrumental Ensemble of Mali ends the collection on a classic note, reprising the pan-ethnic vision of Modiba Keita's Mali, with vocal and instrumental excellence, and a quaint but heartfelt celebration of the changing roles of women in the country. Our hope is that listening to these songs, and singing these songs, will make it easier for Malians and other West Africans to let go of a part of their tradition that is hurting their girls. The songs are still heard on the radio in Mali.