“Mali” is the latest release from Niarela Papou, the stage name of Malian singer, composer and multi-instrumentalist Mahamadou Sidibé. A member of the Orchestre National Badema du Mali since 2022, Papou is known for blending traditional Malian forms with elements of jazz, blues and afrobeat. His 2024 debut album Papou Bara Na explored these intersections across several languages, including Bambara and French.

The track opens with a low-tuned kamalengoni riff in 12/8, establishing a rolling groove rooted in southern Malian tradition. Papou’s vocal line enters with steady phrasing, lightly harmonised and supported by dry, close-miked percussion — calabash, hand claps and finger snaps — designed to shape momentum without saturating the mix.

“Mali” leads into Niarela Papou’s latest EP Le Renouveau, a project that draws on Papou’s work within the Wassoulou tradition and his collaborations with Cheick Tidiane Seck and Vieux Farka Touré.