Bamako has a storied and deserved reputation as a regional capital for live music. It’s usually possible to catch a show, even on the quieter nights of the week. But if you’re new in town, or just passing through, you might have no idea where to begin. 

Bamako sits geographically near the center of West Africa. Several musical traditions meet and intersect here. Everything from Songhoy guitar music from the north to the Wassoulou musical tradition (Oumou Sangare, Fatoumata Diawara, etc.) from the south, to small Tuareg bands playing in backyards and more can be caught in Bamako – and all of these musical styles sound totally different.

Since the ongoing conflict began in 2012, many musicians in the north have moved to the capital. We all would love for stability to return to the north, but in the meantime, we can’t complain that Bamako is the best place to catch Songhoy or Tuareg/Tamashek music. Songhoy, a music venue in Bamako’s Golf neighborhood named after the northern Songhoy music which prevails there (the style is called “Takamba”), is one of the more dependable places to catch a show with live music and usually a good crowd every weekend.

Musicians from Mali are known internationally, in a number of different genres: Salif Keita, Amadou and Mariam, Tinariwen, Fatoumata Diawara, Ali Farka Toure, Habib Koité are just a few of the names that have found large audiences around the world. If the timing is right, you can catch one of Mali’s big acts when you’re in town if they pass through in between tours. Ali Farka Toure is no longer with us, but his son, Vieux Farka, plays regularly in Bamako.

When COVID-19 struck Mali, the government immediately imposed a strict curfew and restrictions on gatherings of more than 50 people. This was, obviously, devastating to the Bamako music scene. The restrictions were lifted a few months later and the 2020 coup d’état followed shortly afterward.

Bamako’s music scene is still kicking, but the effects of 2020 and the more recent global cost of living crisis have left their mark. There is less money floating around to pay musicians to play at venues and weddings. Many important venues have closed in the last two years, but most of the staples remain, and Malian musicians are still creating music. Catch a show, big or small, if you’re in town – musicians in Mali need the support.

This is a map that will be constantly updated with venue information. If you have anything to add, get in touch with us on the contact page. We will do our best to try and add musical styles, artists, and info about ambience for as many venues as possible.