Friday 18th January 2013 by Grace Carroll | Photos by WENN

Tags: Glastonbury Festival

Glastonbury have confirmed the first act playing the 2013 festival - a Malian singer named Rokia Traore.

Traore previously played Glastonbury in 2009, and organisers have announced that a Malian artist will open the Pyramid Stage each day as an act of solidarity, as Islamists in the north of Malia have banned music. 

Certain parts of the festival site will also be revamped in order to emphasise the link and give a strong West African presence.

Emily Eavis, festival co-organiser, told The Guardian, "We have a long tradition dating back to the 80s of African acts playing the festival.

"Given the situation in Mali at the moment, it felt particularly important to show some solidarity. We want to stay out of the politics, but if we can give musicians a platform we will always do that."

Traore said, "What is happening with the Islamists is a tragedy, although we have been given some hope by events this week. All we want to do is to get on with our normal lives."

She continued, "Music is such an important part of our culture. It has always been a way of bringing together the different ethnic groups; it is what makes the country. If it can happen in Mali, it can happen anywhere. We're very grateful to Glastonbury for allowing us the opportunity to help draw attention to what's going on."

An artist from Malia will be opening the Pyramid Stage each day

Eavis added, "It's a relief not to talk about the headliners. The festival is so much more than three bands at the top of the bill.

"It's good to remind everyone what we're really about - and we've got a responsibility to introduce people to great music that they may not have heard before.

"One of the best things I've ever seen at Glastonbury was Amadou and Mariam on the Pyramid stage in 2009."

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