Afropop Worldwide

JeConte & The Mali Allstars have released a track with famed Malian singer Khaira Arby, Vieux Farka Touré and Bassekou Kouyate, in direct response to the tumultuous situation in her home country. Her stateside manager Chris Nolan had this to say about Khaira, the situation in Mali and the new song:

Thousands of refugees have fled the country seeking safety in the open countryside or in refugee camps in neighboring countries. Many more have stayed in their homes to wait for the situation to be resolved. This humanitarian crisis is largely unknown and woefully underfunded because of NGO reluctance to move into what is effectively a warzone. By chance, Khaira Arby was at work in a Bamako recording studio with JeConte and the Mali Allstars when the news broke that a coup was in progress, in the streets right outside the door. No stranger to socio-political issues, Khaira Arby was eager to work on the new song that JeConte had just written about the tensions in Mali. Together with two other internationally recognized Malian music stars, Vieux Farka Toure and Bassekou Kouyate, this plea for peace was born.

As of right now, Khaira Arby is scheduled to tour North America beginning April 26th in Dallas, Texas. Obviously there is question about whether or not she will be able to leave the country. If she does, Arby vows to call for peace in Mali throughout the tour.