One of Mali’s oldest musical instruments, the balafon, is now on the UNESCO intangible cultural heritage list. Made by artisans who have passed on their skills from one generation to the next, it is deeply rooted in the musical traditions of the Sahel nation's Senufo, Malinke, Bwa and Minianka communities. The recognition has particularly delighted the country's famed balafon musician and maker, Souleymane Traore, known by his stage name Neba Solo, who calls the classification “a dream come true.” IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES ARRANGED IN SEQUENCES N°36ZM7MU