The interesting thing for me is to put together all my influences and all my experiences I got through my traveling with my father.

We need self-confidence in our ability to build Africa. I trust in Mali and I trust in music.

You just have to try before thinking that you can't.

There are some things around us that are not actually useful. I didn't know that before. It's very new for me to understand. That became my way of writing: I can see also the new myself.

It's a great experience just to understand that finally being well known is not the most important thing.

When you are able to make a living with your job as an artist, that means you have an audience and you have to thank this audience.

Sometimes there are painters or very famous artists who start to become artists after they are dead because an audience or a public know about their art after they die.

When you have a chance to be an artist with an audience in your lifetime, you have to say thanks to your audience. That's a great thing. That's the best thing that can happen to an artist.

You can be a star here in Europe and not be known at all in the United States.

American audiences don't react in the same way as European ones to African music because, I think, Europeans listen to this music through all the festivals that exist here.

I've been in contact with music since I was four or five years old through my father, because of the interest he had in music and all his musical skills. I finally managed to make that my profession.

Stars shine on us, but talent shines in us.

Friendship is a special kind of love. More than endless, more than true. When friends parted ways no matter the distance, expect them to keep coming back to you.

Art is why I get up in the morning, but my definition ends there.

-You are on the verge of being truly mad. -No, not at all. Look at me. I can tie my shoelaces. See?

Chase after money and security and your heart will never unclench.

But how little we know what would make paradise for our neighbours! We judge from our own desires, and our neighbours themselves are not always open enough even to throw out a hint of theirs.

Service or giving is the other side of receiving. Giving and receiving is a full circle: a full circle feels more natural than a half circle.

All my works are games, serious game.

The darts of love are blunted by maiden modesty.

Don't waste time blaming yourself when you can spend time planning how to destroy our enemies.