Mali Blues (Lutz Gregor, 2016)

The West African country of Mali is the birthplace of the blues, a musical tradition that’s flourished in America since being carried here by the transatlantic slave. Yet today, the music and musicians of Mali are in danger. As fundamentalist Islam and sharia law become more widespread in the region, dance and secular music are prohibited, musical instruments are destroyed, and musicians are forced to flee their homeland. This vibrant documentary Mali Blues follows four artists—including singer Fatoumata “Fatou” Diawara, memorably featured in the Oscar-nominated film Timbuktu, and Bassekou Kouyaté, a celebrated ngoni player who performed at the Wex in 2011—who combine rich musical traditions with contemporary influences, using their music to stand up to extremism and inspire tolerance and peace. (93 mins., DCP)