National Geographic Music (National Geographic)

If you want to change the lives of women in Mali then buy all the songs from this remarkable Stop Excision collection -- it's that simple -- 100% of all proceeds from the sale of these downloads goes to the Stop Excision organization. "We can't avoid lots of bad things," sings Kandia Kouyate (in photo above) in Bambara, "But we can avoid a lot of pain if we stop excising our daughters." Stop Excision is a recording of Malian artists singing anti-excision and pro-women's rights songs. Eight of the twelve songs address the question of excision directly, and the message is clear and strong: "Excision isn't an obligation… Let's not do it," sings Ami Koita in her famously blustering alto. "We didn't used to know, but now we do. Excision is bad," keens Neba Solo from within a village trance groove. Young reggae musicians, the Zotto Boys and the Skankin' Brothers weigh in with a ragamuffin vibe and a touch of attitude: "Leave the girl alone!" The lyrics are often blunt, but also high minded and serious. You sense that these singers don't come to the point of public advocacy easily. They understand the seriousness of breaking with the past, but in the face of suffering, disease, and danger, they assert that the path is clear. -- Banning Eyre Afropop.org

— CalabashMusic.com