Ini che! Welcome to the heart of West Africa—Mali, a vast, landlocked nation that was once the center of some of Africa’s greatest and wealthiest empires. There are around 25 million people living here, and the capital is Bamako, one of the fastest-growing cities on the continent, situated on the banks of the Niger River. The official language is Bambara, though French is still used for administration.

Mali covers about 1,240,192 square kilometers (478,841 square miles). The country is about twice the size of the state of Texas in the U.S., or about five times the size of the United Kingdom. The northern half of the country reaches deep into the Sahara Desert, while the south is more fertile and green.

The most popular sport is Football, and the national team is known as “Les Aigles” (The Eagles). Their national animal is the Leopard, symbolizing power and grace.

The flag consists of three vertical stripes of green, yellow, and red, where the green represents the fertility of the land, the yellow symbolizes the country’s mineral wealth, and the red stands for the blood shed for independence.

The food is flavorful and often based on grains and rice. You must try Tiguadege Na, a delicious peanut butter stew made with meat and served over rice or couscous. Another staple is Foutou, which is pounded yams or plantains. Along the Niger River, Capitaine (Nile Perch) is a popular fish dish. Mali is also famous for its Sweet Mint Tea, served in three rounds, each with a different level of sweetness and strength.

Mali is home to the legendary city of Timbuktu, which for centuries was a global center of learning and trade, housing thousands of ancient manuscripts. You can visit the Great Mosque of Djenné, the largest mud-brick building in the world and a masterpiece of Sudano-Sahelian architecture. The country is also famous for the Dogon Country, where the Dogon people live in villages built into the cliffs of the Bandiagara Escarpment, maintaining unique astronomical traditions and mask dances. Historically, Mali was home to Mansa Musa, often cited as the wealthiest person in human history.

From the vibrant rhythms of Malian Blues music to the golden sands of the Sahara, Mali is a land of profound history and resilient spirit. I ni ce! That means “Thank you!”