If you get the chance, do check out the BBC progam Festival in the Desert, filmed in 2004. Some background: the festival is put on by EFES, a Tamashek (Touareg) cultural organization, with the goal of bringing together musicians from all the many tribal groups in Mali. Here's BBC's page on the program. Also, a press release with more background on the festival.

Sure, the presenter is kinda wack, the camera work is less than stellar, and they have a bad habit of cutting off the ends of songs. Doesn't matter. What matters is that includes performances by Ali Farka Toure, Tinariwen, Oumou Sangare, Gangbe Brass Band (the only act from outside of Mali to make the cut into the program -- it's a 3 day festival so I'm sure there were other non-Malian acts present), Amadou & Mariam (w/ Manu Chao sitting in), and Habib Koite. Awesome stuff if you're already a fan. A good introduction to why you should be if you're not. The other thing I took away is that I've got to make sure and see Habib Koite next time I get the chance.