The playlist: folk and world – Damon Albarn, Baaba Maal

From Damon Albarn in Mali to Show of Hands in the West Country, plus echoes of Colombia, Guinea, Louisiana – and Ewan McColl’s Dirty Old Town

Damon Albarn – Sunset Coming OnI’m just back from Mali, where there was drumming, dancing and celebration in the griot village of Kirina, as Damon Albarn was honoured for his work helping Malian music – and for returning to the country even after tourists had been advised to keep away after the terrorist attack in November. Earlier, he had performed in Bamako with a band who mixed African instruments with cello and violin. Of course they included Sunset Coming On, from the 2002 album Mali Music. Here’s the original version.