Damon Albarn has been given the status of “local king” in Mali.

On a recent trip to perform in the west African country, where he has been collaborating with local musicians for nearly 15 years, the Blur frontman was honoured by the local community of Bamako, as BBC Radio 4 reports

Music is banned across much of the two-thirds of Mali currently controlled by Islamic rebel groups. Hear the radio report below.

Check out a very cool interactive video of Albarn’s Africa Express project performing their version of Terry Riley’s ‘In C’ in Tate Modern’s Turbine Hall.

Find out more about the electronic music found in Mali’s capital in our feature on Balani Show.