Fatoumata Diawara 'Timbuktu Fasso'

Stellar Malian actress/songstress Fatoumata Diawara performed with her band at The Sanctuary for Independent Media on April 28, 2016 and brought down the house.

Here she sings her powerful lament about the ancient city of Timbuktu, under assault by religious fundamentalists:

THIS IS MY LAND
This is Timbuktu, my home land,
Where the children are mourning from gloom,
This is my land, Timbuktu «the Maliba»,
The land of love,
The land of warmth,
The land of dignity,
Here is my Nation…
Why are we crying?
Why are the children crying?
Why are the young crying?
Cause of unfairness,
Cause of violence,
Fearing the future…
Here is my home
Stop crying
Cause no matter what, Timbuktu will remain

VIDEO PRODUCTION CREDITS

Cameras:
Elizabeth Press
Jay Wilcox
Jill Malouf

Camera assistant: Dylan Bodnar

Sound recording: Troy Pohl
Producer/house sound: Steve Pierce
Director/switcher: Branda Miller
Post production editor: James Bohuski

MUSICIANS
John Bashengazie

[Ali-vc]

Through this song, she drew my attention to a place I barely knew or paid attention to. Timbuktu 🎉

[salkebily]

Fatoumata Diawara my prefere musician✊️✊️keep it going, African people are proud of you🫡🫡🫡particularly Malians. F.D one love for ever, we are proud to be Malian(Timbuktian).

[abdiwahabahmedali]

Timbuktu is my fav place in the world. love and respact from Somalia

[josedubois]

Incroyable Femme, belle comme un soleil, sa voix nous emportes si loin, sans comprendre ses textes vous rentre dans le coeur Merci Madame

[maatras]

Fatou my dear, you are just blessed. I hope that Mali finds peace and throw the bums out.

[kehindeoduwale]

This song always get me teary. Love from Nigeria

[martinekimpton]

Bless Malians endlessly. Liberty to Mali 🇲🇱 2020

[imagedeprestige]

I don't understand the language either, but the song is full of soul; the essence of humanity: freedom, self-affirmation, love, and happiness. One Love and One Peace!

[dushilibri]

Am in heaven somebody please help me with this Angelic voice.

[CharlessoteeDennis]

Im part of her songs, its rooted in my soul because this is the heritage of Africa on display even without understanding not one word.

[ginadupire]

Une des rares artiste a avoir exactement la même voix sur seine que sur l'album. C'est rare, il faut le souligner

[tiyahisrael]

I’m 39% Malian.Very high percentage than anyone from the US..We called my late paternal grandma Mamou which means grandmother in Mali.Im loving her music, most likely a root blood lineage connection.

[jarednovel]

Timbouctu was a great center of learning. The scholars there were ahead of their time.

[balajidayal]

Her message is clear and sweet...islamists AL Queda came and destroyed the thinkers of Timbaktu...one day they will go and peace will return..

[kezo.t]

This woman has got swag. She is full of soul.Reminds me of Erika Badou. She is so elegant.

[thecolumnists]

I don't know the language she is used, but I am moved in my imagination, crossing the Sahara to Timbuktu. I am listing while crying from the deep of my soul😢 Peace, love and unity shall be among Africans. Love u from Ethiopia🇪🇹

[kw]

Universal expression .... Good Music....you feel good songs even without understanding the language

[odunolafoluke]

I don't understand her language but I love her and her kind of music. She's my birthday mate. 🇳🇬Love from Nigeria.

[shermanbarclay]

I Can’t Believe we got Angel 😇 like this on earth 🌏 fatoumata you have a heart ❤️ Of gold 🇱🇷🇱🇷 from Liberia living in the U.S 🇺🇸

[quebeckromeovictor]

What a song, what a performance, what a passion, what a deep meaning, what a WOMAN!