'I wrote this to say, let me speak my language.'

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Baaba Maal highlights the importance of speaking and learning African languages. The fact that the authorities only taught Arabic and French inspired him to write Demgalam - My Language. This prompted Mauretania to ban him and his music for seven years. Image: Baaba Maal (L) speaks to villagers in Dolol in 2012 during a tour in northeastern Senegal Credit: Getty