The music culture of Mali is one of the finest in the world. When islamists took over Northern Mali last year they also forbid music. Radio channels are only allowed to play verses of Qur´an.

There was an introduction of Mali music in today´s Helsingin Sanomat. There are seven interesting links for beginners also in the article. I cannot decide which one is best. =)

Ali Farka Touré & Toumani Diabate: Kala Djula

Amadou & Mariam: Oh Amadou (feat. Bertrand Cantat)

Salif Keita: Afrika

Tinariwen: Iswegh Attay

Bassekou Koyaté & Ngoni Ba: Musow

Rokia Traoré: Zen

Fatoumata Diawara: Bissa

How ´bout Habib Koite, a solo singer, songwriter and guitarist, based in Mali?

His MusoKo album is somewhere on my PC´s hard disk. And my personal favorite of his, I Ka Barra, is something which I listen to every now and then.

Yes, he is beautiful. I like N´Teri. It is amazing how you can feel the deep melancholy in this song even though you don´t understand a word of the language.

There are some English translations of Habib Koité´s lyrics in this discussion, even the song you mentioned, si++:

http://www.allthelyrics.com/forum/lyrics-translation/66856-habib-koite-and-bamada-lyrics-if-possible-translated.html