THE DAY THE MUSIC DIED IN MALI

By: Sujatha Fernandes

Published: May 19 2013; The New York Times; http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/20/opinion/the-day-the-music-died-in-mali.html

Note to the Student: A sample of the writing activity is available in the file marked “Sample Essays”

BEFORE YOU READ

·         On what occasions do we listen to music?

·         What purposes does music serve in society?

·         How would the absence of music affect society?

NOW WATCH THE VIDEOS
 Julia Gaines in "The Role of Music in Society and School"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bf179WP2QXM
TEDxDetroit 2011 - Leonard Slatkin - The Importance of Music
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJ92bP2nUyY

QUESTIONS

1.       What reaction to music does the writer find surprising? Censorship or prohibition?

2.       Why is it especially incredible that it is Mali where music is banned?

3.       What example of vandalism is given in the text?

4.       The possibility of …………………………… is causing northern musicians to migrate.

5.       What three reasons are provided for the ban on music?

6.       The griot in Malian society has three functions at ceremonies. They are: ………………………

7.       In what respect are griots compared to libraries? They are both ………………………………….

8.       What does “This” refer to in the phrase “This is especially true in Mali”?

9.       Read the story of the song “Teaching, Studies”. What function of musicians is this song an example of?

10.   What was the purpose of “Plus jamais ça” and the music they produced?

11.   What does “it” refer to in the phrase “We may lose it”?

12.   What characteristics of a conclusion does the last paragraph have?

WRITING TASK

Write a paragraph discussing why music is important for society. Use the following points out of the text:

·         To provide background

·         To entertain

·         To assure of our interconnection

·         To communicate what we can’t say

·         To share information

·         To protest or warn

THE DAY THE MUSIC DIED IN MALI KEY AND TEACHER’S NOTES

This is another wonderful little text which is both very simple and has a wow factor. It lends itself to some good careful reading questions and a decent writing activity. I was especially glad to find it as simple texts that are also interesting to read are few and far between. A sample of the writing activity is in the file marked “Sample Essays”

1.       Prohibition

2.       Because the country produced internationally renowned musicians

3.       Militants setting fire to guitars and drum kits

4.       Vengeful acts by the Malian army

5.       Music is a distraction from single minded devotion (or religious fanaticism), to sabotage the economy, to terrorize people

6.       Providing background, to communicate what we cannot always say in words, to assure us of our interconnection

7.       Repositories of history

8.       If the griots lose their function as story tellers, society loses a critical link to its past

9.       Music that raises awareness of social issues. The answer must be made to fit in with the way the question is asked.

10.   To end conflict

11.   The real story of our country

12.   It is much more general; not just about Mali and there are lessons for all of us.