Another West African Country Joins Expo 2027 Belgrade
The Republic of Mali, the eighth-largest country on the African continent, is among the 120 nations that have officially confirmed their participation in Expo 2027 Belgrade, where it will showcase its vision of the theme “Play for Humanity: Sport and Music for All” from May 15 to August 15, 2027.
Bilateral diplomatic relations between Serbia and the Republic of Mali, established in 1961, have always been very good and friendly. Expo 2027 offers an exceptional opportunity to further strengthen and deepen these ties for the mutual benefit of both countries.
“We are delighted that in less than two years, here in Belgrade, in the heart of the Old Continent, we will have the privilege of welcoming our friends from West Africa, who will present to the world their rich cultural, artistic, and sporting potential. We welcome the decision of the Republic of Mali to join the Play for Humanity initiative and invite other African countries to come to Serbia in 2027,” said Danilo Jerinić, CEO of Expo 2027 Belgrade LLC.
Mali made its debut at International Exhibitions during Expo 1998 in Lisbon and has since regularly participated in both World and Specialised Expos. The country became a member of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) in 2007.
Mali is home to an exceptionally diverse ethnic composition, with the Bambara being the largest group, representing about one-third of the total population. Their language, one of Mali’s 13 official languages, transcends ethnic boundaries and serves as the main means of communication for more than half of the population. This linguistic role contributes to the richness and diversity of Mali’s cultural heritage.
The country’s musical traditions trace their origins back to the griots, renowned African storytellers considered guardians of memory. Popular instruments include the kora, ngoni, balafon, djembe, traditional guitar, sokou, doundoun, tamani, bara, and Fulani flutes, while dance plays an equally important role in Malian society and culture. Dance evenings are a common form of social gathering among friends, while traditional masked dances are performed at various ceremonies.
Football is the most popular sport in the country, gaining prominence after Mali hosted the Africa Cup of Nations in 2002. The national team reached the final of the tournament in 1972 and secured third place in 2012 and 2013. Among the country’s most famous players are the iconic Salif Keita, nicknamed Domingo, the first African Ballon d’Or in 1970; Frédéric Kanouté, African Ballon d’Or 2007, former Sevilla FC player and UEFA Cup winner; Seydou Keita, former FC Barcelona player; as well as internationally recognized talents such as Fousseni Diabaté, Mohamed Camara, Amadou Haidara, and Mahamadou Diarra, former Real Madrid midfielder. In basketball, Mali boasts stars such as Amara Sy, an emblematic player of ASVEL (Tony Parker’s club); Cheick Diallo, a former NBA player in the United States; and Sika Koné, a young Malian WNBA star.
Expo 2027 Belgrade will be the first International Exhibition ever held in the Western Balkans. Over the course of its 93 days, it is expected to attract more than four million visitors.