RNW Correspondent, Bram Posthumus interviews Malian musical talent and this month's role model, Khaira Arby.

You live in an extraordinary city...
Yes, I’m from Timbuktu. I was born there, grew up there. This is the city of 333 saints. The city of mysteries. Every day, you will come across one, two or even ten of them. There are surprises here every single day. As you know, Timbuktu is highly cosmopolitan. All kinds of different groups live here, speaking many languages: Arabic, Songhai, and so on.

If I stood on your doorstep now, where would you take me?
I’d take you inside my house. That’s how we are. If you meet the least important person in Timbuktu, he’ll say: “Bismillah, my home is your home”. If you meet the most important person in Timbuktu, he’ll say: “Bismillah. My home is your home”. So, I’d invite you to come and see me, and find out how I live with my family and how I educate them.

Was it always your dream to become a musician?
Well, I must say that in our family there have never been any musicians. So it was quite surprising that I became one. But yes, I have always dreamt to be a great artist.

I was discovered at school. There was a teacher who loved me very much. And every time she had to go out to do some business, she told me to take care of the class, while singing. So I sang to the class and then we’d all sing together.

Also, we have an artistic competition called the Biennale. It starts in every neighbourhood and then goes on to the higher administrative levels, all the way to the regions. So, I came out on top in my neighbourhood. Then the higher levels and finally the regions. And now, thanks to God, I am at an international level. We’re on our way!

Who were your musical examples?
I listened to all kinds of music, even if I did not understand what they were about. For instance, I listened a lot to Miriam Makeba, the diva. I loved her songs. And then I listened a lot to Sory Kandia Kouyaté, may he rest in peace. [Kouyaté was a highly renowned singer from Guinea] So I listened to all the great artists.

Who is your role model?
Miriam Makeba, the revolutionary. She has shown that a woman can indeed be a revolutionary and can help the men in all their endeavours.

What is your most precious possession?
Peace. It’s something that is very dear to me. I hope peace will go on, not only in Mali, because there are problems everywhere in the world. Let’s hope peace will return to the entire world.

You have an important message for women...
I do. I give women courage, especially if they want to be musicians. You must have courage and really devote yourself to music. It’s important that women have self-confidence. This is my own personal life experience. You see, I had to become head of the family when my mother passed away. And everyone thought: “Is that going to work?” Of course it was going to work! I am the mother of five boys and one girl. It is me who has educated them. I have taken them to school - the Koranic school. And today, thanks to God, some of them work. You cannot say that a woman can’t help her family. It’s not true. But you need courage.