Final answer:
Music was crucial in the religious festivals of Mali under Islamic rulers like Sundiata Keita and Mansa Musa.
Step-by-step explanation:
Music was an integral part of religious festivals in Mali during the times when the rulers, such as Sundiata Keita and Mansa Musa, performed their rituals. When Sundiata Keita, the founder of the Mali Empire, established Niani as the capital, he incorporated both Islamic and traditional African religious practices into the state's activities. Music played a significant role in these ceremonies. After Sundiata, when Mali's rulers, like the renowned Mansa Musa, fully converted to Islam, Mali became the largest Islamic kingdom in West Africa. The empire's adherence to Islam influenced the nature and extent of its religious festivities, including music, which continued to be an essential part of religious and social life.