L'Ensemble Instrumental National

Established the day after the Independence of Mali in 1961, l’Ensemble instrumental national is an orchestra of traditional Malian music and song.

Its mission is to maintain and give value to the heritage of Malian forms of music and song.

Repertoire

 * Duga : (Hymn of bravery)
 * Maliba : (Glory to Mali)
 * Mamaya
 * Soweto (a memory of Soweto)
 * Sogo : (hymn for the hunters, symbols of honesty and bravery)
 * Soundiata : (Mandingue Epic)
 * Dâ Monzon : (Bambaran Epic)
 * Sosso : (to encourage joy, happiness, and love)
 * Taara : (homage to bravery)
 * Sécurité : (homage to the army)
 * Janjo : (homage to bravery)
 * Musolu : (homage to women)
 * Cedo : (homage to bravery)
 * Bamba Niaré : Jatigiya (Hospitality)

Tours

 * 1961 : Artistic tour in USSR
 * 1964 : Animation Salon International de POCORA/Pris (France)
 * 1964 : Festival des Arts Nègres à Dakar (Sénégal)
 * 1977 : Festival Mondial des Arts Nègres (FESTAC.77)
 * 1978 : Algeria
 * 1979 : Festival in Guinea (Conakry)
 * 1979 : France, Germany, Switzerland, and the Netherlands
 * 1980 : Niger
 * 1983 : China, Korea, and USSR
 * 1986 : Korea
 * 1987 : Festival in Libya
 * 1996 : Festival Republic of Congo-Brazzaville (FESPAM)
 * 1997 : New Orleans Jazz Festival (USA) and performance in New York
 * 1999 : 4th Annual « Roots Festival à Banjul » (Gambia)
 * 2000 : Malian Fair in Paris
 * 2000 : CAN at Accra (Ghana)
 * 2001 : Faire at the Gallery Fayette-Paris
 * 2002 : Dakar (Sénégal)
 * 2003 : Night of solidarity and intégration (Ouagadougou)
 * 2003 : Folklife Festival in Washington, DC

Prizes

 * 1963 : Medal for the Folklore of National Theater at Paris.
 * 1966 : Gold medal (first prize) at the Festival of Black Arts at Dakar
 * 1969 : Gold medal (first prize) at the Pan-African Arts Festival in Algier (Algeria)
 * 1995 : Gold medal of Melody at Johannesburg (Fair Afro-Arabe)

Instruments

 * Kora
 * Balafon
 * Flute
 * N’Goni
 * N’Polon
 * Kamalen N’Goni
 * Dundun
 * Soku
 * Djembé

Discography

 * One Album, 33 Days
 * Epopée Mandingue
 * Epopée Bambara
 * Musolu