Tiny pop star needing dollar also heard in Mali city (8)

I believe the answer is:

timbuktu

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'city' is the definition.
(Timbuktu is an example)

I don't understand the remainder of the clue.

(Other definitions for timbuktu that I've seen before include "Oh, go to - very remote town in Mali, Africa?" , "'City in Mali, once famous for its gold trade (8)'" , "Colloquially, a distant place" , "remote location" , "Mythical faraway place (in Africa?)" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.

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