They Will Have To Kill Us First

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Monday, May 9th, 2016
7:00 PM

Presented by the Sid Williams Theatre Society

Islamic extremists have banned music in Mali, but its world-famous musicians won’t give up without a fight.

This film follows the story of Mali’s musical heroes as they fight for their right to sing.

Music is the beating heart of Malian culture. Music is Mali. But when Islamic hardliners took control of northern Mali, they enforced one of the harshest interpretations of sharia law in history, and crucially for Mali, they banned all forms of music. Radio stations were destroyed, instruments burned and Mali’s musicians faced torture, even death.

Overnight, Malian’s revered musicians were forced into hiding or exile where most remain even now. But rather than lay down their instruments, the musicians are fighting back, standing up for their cultural heritage and identity. Through everything, they have used music as their weapon against ongoing violence that has left Mali ravaged.

This film begins with our musicians on the run, tells the story of the uprising of Touareg separatists, reveals rare footage of the jihadists, captures life at refugee camps where money and hope are scarce, follows perilous journeys home to war-ravaged cities, and follows our characters as they set up and perform at the first public concert in Timbuktu since the music ban.

With a specially commissioned soundtrack from some of Mali’s most exciting artists, and a score written by the Yeah Yeah Yeah’s Nick Zinner, They Will Have to Kill us First leaps headfirst into a tale of courage in the face of conflict.

Mali’s extraordinary musicians narrate this film themselves through their songs – starting with an explosive rap from Malian superstar Aéçëñèèáè, detailing the backstory of Mali’s North/South divide.

The situation in Mali forms part of an alarming trend – across the globe, extremists are attacking culture, art, and freedom with increasing frequency and violence. Filming personal narratives as the conflict unfolds, we draw the audience into the human side of this conflict and ask: what does the future hold for Mali? Will the religious intolerance be defeated in? Will the musicians ever feel safe enough to return to home?