The Egyptian Nefer, a musical instrument from Pharaonic times, is the predecessor to the Oud. It was built and carved from one piece of wood and, like the Oud, is classified as a chordaphone. On ceremonial and religious occasions the nefer (lute) could be accompanied by the harp, lyre and sacred sistrum. Sometimes a small group would accompany the music with hand claps.The instrument was adopted by Persian invaders who called it the Barbet. From Persia, it travelled north into Russia and was called the Balalaika, and then East into China and Japan where it was called the Pipa and Biwa respectively. It travelled west to the Arabian Peninsula in the Fifth Century by the Persians and and was called the Oud, which in Arabic means wood (al-ud) and is the root from which the European word "lute" is derived from.
It was the legendary musician Abu-l-Hassan'Ali Ibn Nafi, known as Ziryab (the Blackbird) who is credited for bringing the Oud into Spain during the Moorish period (711-1492 AD). Born in Mesopotamia in 789 AD, he was called "Ziryab" the black bird because of his black complexion, as well as his musical voice and eloquence. (There is also a rare bird of black plummage from that area know as Zaryab, Zeryab or Zariyab. Originally the slave of the famous musician Ibrahim al-Hawsili before moving on to become a musician, Ziryab eventually moved to North Africa where he lived for a number of years.
It was due to a dispute with his mentor and teacher Ishak, that caused Ziryab to leave North Africa for the Spanish city of Al-Andalus, where after writing an introductory letter to Al Hakam I, the current ruler of Spain, he was invited to Cordova in 822 AD. Ziryab also found favour with and his son and sucessor, Adbur-Rahman II. Ziryab became a very distinguished and wealthy singer in the social circles of Moorish Spain and was well-known outside Moorish Spain's borders. Ziryab founded the first music conservatory in Cordova, invented a plectum made of eagle quill instead of the commonly used wooden ones, and he added a fifth string to the Oud greatly improving its harmony. It was in fact in Moorish Spain that the Oud acquired much of its current characteristics. The Moors constructed many types of Ouds of different tones with varying number of strings.The Oud was introduced into Western Europe by the Knights Templar and the Troubadours from Provence who themselves had adopted it from Muslim Spain which was under Moorish rule at the time. This instrument was to play a crucial role in the establishment of the Romantic Courts. Upon its arrival in the British Isles, it was transformed into the western European lute during the Elizabethan period.
One thousand years ago,Mapungubwe (present day South Africa) in Limpopo province was the centre of the largest kingdom in the subcontinent, where a highly sophisticated people traded gold and ivory with China, India and Egypt. The Golden Rhinoceros has a single horn, a physical trait of the Asian Rhinoceros, which gives further evidence of the peoples' trade with the East.
Excavations revealed a court sheltered in a natural amphitheatre at the bottom of the hill, and at the top of the hill, a graveyard reserved for members of the social elite – with a spectacular view of the region. It was also discovered that the population kept domesticated animals like cattle, sheep, goats and dogs and were generally prosperous. Millet, sorghum and cotton were cultivated as well, as evidenced by the charred remains of storage huts that were found.
Doubma was born in Mafele, near the border with the Ivory Coast. She was raised by her grandmother, her mother having died shortly having given birth to her. But before she died, Doumbia's mother predicted that her daughter would be a singer — this was a little surprising, since she didn't come from the jeli caste, the hereditary singers. It was something her grandparents tried to fight, but it seemed as if the prediction was correct. 
After some experimentation with Western sounds on "Didadi", Nahawa collaborated with African musicians including members of Salif Keita's band, to created a more authentic African sound. This was reflected on "Magoni" produced in 1993. However, on the album "Yaknaw" in 1997, Nahawa produced a true Wassoulou sound, that was often compared to to that of Oumou Sangare. Nahawa sings of social themes, choosing to focus on issues like the position of women in Malian society, the rights of women and children, and the difficulties facing African immigrants in Europe, she also speaks out against polygamy.
Ali Ibrahim "Farka" Toure.. (October 31, 1939 - March 6, 2006) was born in 1939 in Gourmararusse (in the Timbuktu region), Mali, into the noble Sonhai family. Ali, was the tenth son of his mother but the only one to survive past infancy. He was descended from the ancient military force known as the Arma, and was ethnically related to the Songrai (Songhai) and Peul peoples of northern Mali.
During a visit to Bamako in the late 1960's, artists such as Ray Charles, Otis Redding and most importantly John Lee Hooker introduced Ali Farka Toure to African-American music. At first, he thought that Hooker was playing Malian music, but then realized that this music coming from America had deep African roots. Ali Farka Toure was also inspired by Hooker's strength as a performer and began to incorporate elements into his own playing. During those years Ali Farka Toure composed, sang and performed with the famous Troupe 117, a group created by the Malian government after the country's independence.
