Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? Try Mali.

That's where the ladies of TMC would like to be, at least (minus the shots, safety concerns, and exorbitantly-priced plane tickets, that is).

We are slowly discovering the musical wonders of Mali,thanks to All Songs considered, and random finds in the studio, and have recently played "Senegal Fast Food" by Amadou and Mariam, and "Gembi" by Ramatou Diakite.

Amadou and Mariam are a world music powerhouse (they're produced by Manu Chao) and a married couple. They are also both blind, and met at the Bamako Institute for the Blind. What could be sweeter? We certainly don't know.

Other Malian artists to check out:
Ali Farka Toure - Malian nobility who defied his family to become a renowned blues guitarist (again, pretty awesome)
Toumani Diabate - plays the traditional Malian instrument the kora, occasionally rocks out with an orchestra
Mo DJ - does remixes of Amadou and Mariam, among other things
Tinariwen - a Tuareg band!

Senegalese music is similarly enjoyable (and often slightly better-known); try:
Youssou N'Dour - who has worked with Sting, among others
Cheikh Lo - sweet, sweet name
Orchestre Baobab - a Cuban (of all things) influenced band
Baaba Maal - who has collaborated with Brian Eno and been a rap producer
MC Solaar - Senegalese/French rap

In the end though, who wouldn't have a soft spot for a country whose name comes from a local word for Hippopotamus, and which includes that wonderfully improbably named place, Timbuktu?