Mane was an ethnic Mandingo who did not have direct tribal links with the Jolas who made up the MFDC.

BBC: Senegalese soldiers

In Bamako, a group of young artists got together after the military coup in March and formed the movement, Sofas de la Republique (Warriors of the Republic), in a tribute to the great warriors of the Mandingo Empire.

BBC: Blues for Mali as Ali Farka Toure's music is banned