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Lama Sidibé
(Guinea)
Biography
Lama Sidibé is probably the most prominent Guinean singer of the Peul (Fula) population.
He grew up in the popular neighbourhood Horé Fello of the town of Mamou, in the heart of the Fouta Djalon, a
mountaineous region strongly populated by sedentary peul. Already at school, he participated in music and theatre
activities and he continued to perform at weddings, and other social ceremonies. Around 1990, he went to the town of
N'zérékoré and he joined the Nimba Jazz de N'zérékoré. Parallel to the
activities with that band, he founded his own group called Mouydhe. With his group, he performed at various
occasions organised by the UNHCR and WFP in the forest region of Guinea. Lama Sidibé was active as a helper of
the UNHCR.
In 1995, Lama went to Abidjan, where he recorded a first solo album with the help of his arranger Sidi Mady Diabaté, before returning to Conakry in 1996. Due to the fact that he learned the music business outside his native Fouta Djalon region, his first cassette, « Awelilan » was not purely Fula-inspired music. On his second album « Falaama », however, he returned to his Fula roots and became thus one of the main exponents of a new style Fula-pop, along with Petit Yero, Sekouba Fatako and Binta Laly Sow. His third album, « Séguéléré », provided his biggest hit thusfar, « Mari Faala ».
Musicians participating in the album « Falaama »:
Lama Sidibé lead vocals & compositions
Sidy Mady Diabaté "Gilbert" bass
Youssouf Diabaté solo guitar, guitar
Djessou Mory Kanté solo guitar, guitar
Cheikna Diabaté n'goni
Aboubacar Diabaté djembé
Mamadou Bobo Bah calabash and lala
Ley Mbaye percussion, sabar
Baba Gallé Kanté flute
Zakaria Mamboué keyboards
Michel Pinehiro, André, Edouard brass section
Maïmouna Barry, Oumé Barry & Mimi Barry backing vocals
In 1995, Lama went to Abidjan, where he recorded a first solo album with the help of his arranger Sidi Mady Diabaté, before returning to Conakry in 1996. Due to the fact that he learned the music business outside his native Fouta Djalon region, his first cassette, « Awelilan » was not purely Fula-inspired music. On his second album « Falaama », however, he returned to his Fula roots and became thus one of the main exponents of a new style Fula-pop, along with Petit Yero, Sekouba Fatako and Binta Laly Sow. His third album, « Séguéléré », provided his biggest hit thusfar, « Mari Faala ».
Musicians participating in the album « Falaama »:
Lama Sidibé lead vocals & compositions
Sidy Mady Diabaté "Gilbert" bass
Youssouf Diabaté solo guitar, guitar
Djessou Mory Kanté solo guitar, guitar
Cheikna Diabaté n'goni
Aboubacar Diabaté djembé
Mamadou Bobo Bah calabash and lala
Ley Mbaye percussion, sabar
Baba Gallé Kanté flute
Zakaria Mamboué keyboards
Michel Pinehiro, André, Edouard brass section
Maïmouna Barry, Oumé Barry & Mimi Barry backing vocals
Lama Sidibé (around 1999)
Born: in Mamou
Birth name: Mamadou Lamarana Sidibé
Style: "electric" peul music / modern Guinean Fula pop
Discography
| Title | Year | Label | Remarks |
| Samba danna | 2019 | Lama Sidibé/Keyzit | |
| Ko allah wallata | 2015 | Lama Sidibé/Keyzit | |
| Fouta | 2014 | Nimba Ent. Inc | |
| Photo | 2012 | Hcgn-Djm | Compilation? |
| Safari | 2009 | Hcgn-Djm | Compilation? |
| Séguéléré | 2003 | Gris Gris K7 Productions | Cassette |
| Falaama | 1999 | Gris Gris K7 Productions RB 00199 | Cassette |
| Awelilan | 1996 | DD United | First cassette |
Sources
Interview with RadioGuinee.com (retrieved November 2005)
Interview with RadioGuinee.com (retrieved November 2005)
Page added November 2005