When we hear about Mali, it’s usually about that country’s civil war.

But the west African nation has long been a shining star of music and culture. It’s where the annual Festival in the Desert once attracted visitors and pop stars from around the globe.

“[War] simply changes your life,” musician Rokia Traoré says. “And you’re no longer naive, and your way of seeing and thinking — everything changes. And Mali is still what it is. You know, music there is so important and culture is an important part of our social life. And in such a situation, I think that culture is even more important.”

Rokia Traore is one of Mali’s stars. She wrote and rehearsed the music for her new album Né So (which means “home”) in Bamako, and then she recorded in Belgium and England. She recently spoke with NPR’s Linda Wertheimer from the studios of the BBC in Berlin.

Interview Highlights

On living and working in Mali

Actually, one of my biggest frustrations is that the best of African culture and arts in general is not for Africans. I would like so much to have in Mali and in Africa places where people can go and have their own culture and appreciate it and know about themselves in a certain sense and learn about themselves. And so my foundation is to contribute to the existence of this cultural and artistic dynamic in Africa in general.

On covering ‘Strange Fruit,’ an American protest song

Because unfortunately, racism is still one of the problems in the world, in general. And it’s not always and only about racism; it’s not about the color, but it’s also between social classes. And I think it’s important to remember the past, the darkest parts of our past, without feeling guilty or ashamed about it. Just remember that we humans can be so bad, so we have to be careful with ourselves.

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Here are a bunch of little bites to satisfy your hunger for movie culture:

Classic Movie Tribute of the Day:

Watch presidential candidate Donald Trump discuss Citizen Kane for an old canceled project of documentary director Errol Morris (via Reddit):

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Alternate Dimension Movie of the Day:

In another universe, Terrence Malick directed Zoolander No. 2. This is what it looks like:

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Parody Song Music Video of the Day:

There’s a new bad lip reading of Star Wars, and it’s another musical one with a video and everything. Watch Luke Skywalker sing “Not the Future” (via Geek Tyrant):

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Music Video Comic Book Adaptation of the Day:

Deadpool isn’t the only X-Men character to get a new film this week. See Dazzler, Lila Cheney, Strong Man, Stevie Hunter and the New Mutants — Cannonball, Cypher, Karma, Magik, Magma, Mirage, Sunspot, Warlock, and Wolfsbane — in the music video short “I Will Steal Your Heart” (via Fashionably Geek):

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Interactive Commercial of the Day:

Check out an interactive version of Coca-Cola’s Hulk and Ant-Man Super Bowl commercial featuring a sweded version of the ad:

Vintage Image of the Day:

Charlie Chaplin and soon to be secret wife Paulette Goddard film a scene for Modern Times, which opened in theaters 80 years ago today:

Movie Truth of the Day:

Apparently they speak Danish under the sea. Watch Disney animated feature music numbers, including songs from Frozen and The Little Mermaid, sung in the characters’ actual language:

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Video Essay of the Day:

The Frost Bros analyze the structure of the Coen brothers‘ Inside Llewyn Davis and how like a folk song:

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Supercut of the Day:

Joseph Gordon-Levitt seems to get hurt in every movie he’s in. Watch this supercut as evidence (via Reddit):

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Classic Trailer of the Day:

This weekend is the 25th anniversary of the theatrical release of The Silence of the Lambs. Watch the original trailer for the movie, which would go on to win Best Picture, below.

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and

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