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Thursday: When the West African nation of Mali first established its independence in the early 1960s, many a Malian woke up, turned on the radio and heard "Mali Twist," a tune that helped establish the country's cultural identity. With it, Boubacar Traore became the nation's first musical star, but he chose construction work as a means to support his family. When an international interest in Malian music was sparked by Ali Farka Toure's brand of African blues in the early '90s, Traore's name often came up as an influence, but he was presumed dead. Then a producer found him in France, got him back in the studio and now his music stands as the sunny southern flip side to Toure's rough-edged northern blues. 7:30 p.m.; Cedar Cultural Center, 416 Cedar Ave. S., Mpls.; $20-$18; 612-338-2674. — Rob Hubbard