Desert Festival

As one of the most famous music festivals in Mali, Desert Festival has many different names, such as Festival au Désert. Desert Festival was Tuareg music and culture blended seamlessly. Visitors and residents can fully enjoy various Malian and international artists on stage here. The festival venue is a scene of music and dance for days, interspersed with sword fights and camel races. A unique experience, reinforced by the atmosphere of the desert. Visitors can also take one or more djembé lessons with an experienced percussionist.

The Desert Festival evolved from a traditional Tuareg gathering filled with lively discussions and fun into an international event of peace. To this day, festivalgoers celebrate the 1996 Flame of Peace celebration when more than 3,000 firearms were burned in Timbuktu. Unlike many other music festivals, the stage was surrounded by nothing but the desert and the audience remained silent. The more lively parties start at nearby discos late at night.

• Organization time: February every year
• Location: Mali