In 2018, Catur visited Mali in West Africa to deepen his musical knowledge and to experience the traditional context of drumming in the motherland of djembe.
But travelling to Mali wasn’t an easy decision to make, as the media were depicting only riots, bombs and terror in the West African country at that time. Catur decided not to listen to the fear-mongering news and instead he followed his heart and left on the journey of a lifetime. Once in Mali he quickly discovered that the soundscape of the country was created by kamalen n’goni, djembe, kora, balafon and dunun, and not from the turmoil of guns and bombs.

The time Catur spent in Africa was one of the most vibrant of his life.
Mali is West Africa’s beating heart; a country with a rich history and cultural heritage. Mali is known for music above all else; and Malian music has influenced most of today’s musical genres. Simply walking around in the streets of Bamako, with its legendary music scene, is a pleasure for the ears of any musical connoisseur. In Mali, everything is about rhythm: the way people walk, the way they harvest their crops, even the manner in which they prepare their food, is imbued with music and rhythm.
And rhythm is exactly what Catur discovered in Mali. Malians are fiercely proud of their culture, and are always eager to share generously with visitors. Whilst attending intensive drumming workshops led by the master Basidi Kone (leader of the Bwazan band) and his family members, Catur was often taken by his teachers to weddings and was invited to play during the ceremonies. Experiencing the local life and culture from within, and with such an intensity, was for Catur a life changing adventure, an unforgettable journey made possible by the extraordinary hospitality and generosity of his Malian hosts.

“Mali Akadi I” and “Mali Akadi II” are two pieces that express Catur’s gratitude for Mali. Mali akadi means “Mali is good” in Bambara, the official language in Mali and lingua franca in West Africa. “Mali is good” is Catur’s answer to the negative image that the media has spread about Mali. Mali is not only crimes, terrorism and kidnapping. Mali is also full of joy, kindness, celebrations, traditions and wisdom.

“Thank you Mali for being so good to me. See you again soon” - Catur