Mali

West Africa · history · music · desert

Landlocked and Large. Mali is completely surrounded by other countries, with no ocean access, but it's still the eighth-largest country in all of Africa with an area bigger than Egypt.

Ancient Empires. Mali was once home to one of the world's greatest medieval kingdoms, the Mali Empire, which controlled huge amounts of gold and salt and became incredibly wealthy and powerful.

Music Powerhouse. Mali is famous around the world for its incredible music, especially the bluesy sound of the kora harp and the rhythmic griot tradition where storytellers pass down history through song.

Sahara Desert. A large part of Mali is covered by the Sahara Desert, one of the hottest and driest places on Earth, which shapes how people live and travel there.

River Niger. The mighty Niger River flows through Mali and is crucial for farming, fishing, and transportation across the country.