From the beating heart of the capital city Bamako to the rich musical soils of Niafunk, Mali has become synonymous with the raw desert blues sound. <p>Featuring the likes of the legendary Tuareg band Tartit as well as Songhai bluesman Samba Toure (protg of the legendary Ali Farka Toure), this Rough Guide also includes tracks by other unsung heroes, all of whom share the same goal of preserving a culture under serious threat. There are tracks from artists who speak out about the huge social issues present in Malian society. <p>It follows on from the success of other Malian albums in the Rough Guide range.