Ali Farka Toure - Commander of the National Order of Mali Ali Farka Toure was awarded Mali's highest civil honor on Wednesday as a dense storm of sand and dust delayed his funeral in Niafunke, his Saharan hometown.

 

President Amadou Toumani Toure made Ali Farka Toure a Commander of the National Order at a ceremony in Bamako.

"Farka is a monument of Malian music, Farka is the pride of Mali"
Toumani Toure

"Farka is a monument of Malian music, Farka is the pride of Mali" Toumani Toure

Ali was widely regarded as a peace-maker, notably singing in all the national languages during the time of civil war.

His body was supposed to have been flown to Niafunke near Timbuktu but a sandstorm grounded planes, and mourners instead were forced to travel the 850 km overland in a convoy of jeeps.