Generative Artificial Intelligence, Musical Heritage and the Construction of Peace Narratives: A Case Study in Mali
It addresses inter-community tensions in Mali by revitalizing musical heritage for reconciliation, but it is incremental as it applies existing AI methods to a new cultural context.
This study explored using generative AI to create music rooted in Mali's traditions to build peace narratives, finding it can act as a catalyst for symbolic diplomacy by amplifying local voices, though challenges like limited linguistic data and ethical issues remain.
This study explores the capacity of generative artificial intelligence (Gen AI) to contribute to the construction of peace narratives and the revitalization of musical heritage in Mali. The study has been made in a political and social context where inter-community tensions and social fractures motivate a search for new symbolic frameworks for reconciliation. The study empirically explores three questions: (1) how Gen AI can be used as a tool for musical creation rooted in national languages and traditions; (2) to what extent Gen AI systems enable a balanced hybridization between technological innovation and cultural authenticity; and (3) how AI-assisted musical co-creation can strengthen social cohesion and cultural sovereignty. The experimental results suggest that Gen AI, embedded in a culturally conscious participatory framework, can act as a catalyst for symbolic diplomacy, amplifying local voices instead of standardizing them. However, challenges persist regarding the availability of linguistic corpora, algorithmic censorship, and the ethics of generating compositions derived from copyrighted sources.