Music culture and conflict in mali page 9 governments pro western policies some say mujao was created after a bitter power struggle at the top of aqim between abou zeid and his arch rival mokhtar belmokhtar one of the most prolific and notorious dons of the saharan smuggling music culture and conflict in mali . The report music culture and conflict in mali written by andy morgann analyses the background of the conflict he has interviewed 20 of malis most acclaimed musicians artists and observers on how music and culture has been affected as a. Music culture and conflict in mali represents an essential resource for anyone scholar or layperson seeking to grasp the malian crisis contemporary west african culture and the impact of extremist movements on cultural production the book is structured thematically in twenty chapters. Music culture and conflict in mali takes an in depth look at the crisis that overtook mali in january 2012 and lead to a ten month occupation of the northern two thirds of the country by armed jihadi groups the book examines the roots of those tumultuous events and their effect on the music and culture of the country