I am Lucy Durán, I have been working in Mali as music researcher and producer for nearly 40 years, working with some of the greatest artists of that intensely musical country. Mali is now in great difficulties - politically, economically, and artistically, also suffering from extreme climate change. This all represents a great challenge to aspiring Malian musicians based in the country.

My story is about one such musician, an extraordinary singer: Rokia Kouyaté, now aged 26.

I've known her since she was a small child. At home she is in demand for wedding parties and in my opinion she is one of the greatest voices of the country, but does not have an album and there is no infrastructure around her. And as the ultimate blow, she has just lost her beloved husband, Gaoussou Cissoko, who died of an aneurism - aged 30 - in extreme heat (50C) on Friday April 26, 2024, just a few days ago, with no warning.

Rokia and both families are totally devastated.

Rokia Kouyaté is the granddaughter of one of Mali's most venerated singers, the late Kassemady Diabaté (1949-2018). I first began working with Kassemady in 1989 and have made several albums featuring his breathtaking voice. That voice runs down through the generations in his family. His daughter, Hawa Kassemady Diabaté, has worked with the Kronos Quartet. They compare her to Mahalia Jackson, America's beloved gospel singer and political activist. And now, the talent has passed on to Hawa's daughter, Rokia Kouyaté, whose voice is utterly sublime. Some may remember her as a young child in my film "Da Kali: the pledge to the art of the griot" (on YouTube) , as she learns traditional songs from her mother and grandfather, with such dedication. No one could have imagined at the time what a remarkable voice she would develop as an adult.

Above: Bamako, Mali, 2010: Rokia in blue top, with her mother Hawa Kassemady, her father Demba Kouyate on ngoni, and far right wearing hat, the late great Kassemady Diabate, Rokia's grandfather.

And yet, despite the fame and prestige of this remarkable family of griot singers, they still struggle to survive. Perhaps it is because they are a family that choose to remain faithful to their traditions, and do not produce pop music. They are the reciters of the old oral epics of the Mande world, such as Sunjata.

Only a few days ago, I recorded (on zoom) a video with Rokia and her mother Hawa Kassemady together performing handclapping songs of Mali. Gaoussou, Rokia's husband, was there, looking well and happy. But now, Rokia has been dealt the terrible blow of losing her young husband. They were great friends, they had been married for two years and he was a true supporter of her talent, and also a fine ngoni player. Rokia has been plunged into intense grieving. On top of losing her husband, she will not be able to sing for at least six months, according to local custom. How will she survive??

I am therefore hoping to raise some funds that I can invest in helping her prepare, during her seclusion as widow, to record an album as a showcase for her powerful voice, hopefully thus providing her with a small income, and encouraging her to keep her spirits up, in her state of grief.

Will you help me raise that money, to make it possible for this young and brilliant Malian singer to survive the period of mourning and come out of it with some hope???

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