Oumou Sangaré
(Mali)

Oumou Sangaré recorded her first cassette in 1989. When it was officially released in 1990, it became an enormous hit in West Africa. Throughout the 1990s, Oumou became increasingly known and loved among both African and Western audience. Her silky voice, the rootsy yet accessible music, and her criticizing lyrics addressing modern time issues, contributed undoubtedly to her success. She specifically addresses to Malian women in her lyrics, singing about their sometimes precarious livelihoods. Oumou became an emblematic figure for women's emancipation in Mali.

On her 1996 album « Worotan », she added horn instruments (a.o. by Pee Wee Ellis on saxophone) without spoiling the authentic sound of the music from the Wassoulou region in Southern Mali.

Oumou continues to release an album occasionally, but she also became increasingly active in business, thus showing once again to African women that they can be emancipated and independent. She built a hotel (Hôtel Résidence Wassoulou) and she started importing Chinese cars for the local market under her own name (Oumsang).

After many years she comes back in 2009 with a stunning album receiving extremely positive acclaim from the music press:

Daily Telegraph:
« Does the world need another Oumou Sangare album? It most certainly does. »
Songlines:
« ..., Seya is a massive album of 11 big-hitting tracks that leaves the listener breathless. »

In 2017, she releases an all-new album, « Mogoya ».

Oumou Sangaré

Musicians on the album Seya (2009):
Oumou Sangaré - Lead vocals & percussion;
'Benogo' Brehima Diakité - Kamele N'goni (3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 & 11), Donso N'goni (4);
Kassim Sidibé - Kamele N'goni (4, 5, 7 & 10), Backing vocals (4);
'Bastos' Mahamane Touré - Guitar (1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 9 & 11);
Djelimady Tounkara - Guitar (5, 6 & 11);
Tony Remy - Guitar (4 & 5);
Hervé Samb - Guitar (3);
Cheick Tidiane Seck - Guitar (2), Hammond organ (3 & 4), Calabash percussion (2), Calabash (8), Karignan (1 & 6), Maracas (10), Shaker (1);
Neba Solo - Balafon (1, 7 & 10);
Souleymane Ouattara - Balafon (1 & 9);
Malik Mezzadri - Flute (1 & 8);
Dramane Koulibaly - Flute (4 & 7);
'Adez' Amadou Traoré - Flute (9)

Born: 2 February 1968, in Bamako
Style: Wassoulou music

Title	Year	Label	Remarks
Timbuktu	2022	World Circuit WCD101
Acoustic	2020	No Format
Mogoya	2017	No Format
Moussolou	2016	World Circuit WCD 021	Re-issue, repackaged with expanded booklet
Seya	2009	World Circuit WCD 081
Oumou	2003	World Circuit WCD 067	2 CD, with new songs and remastered older material
Mussowla Diala	2002	Mali K7	Also Camara Production
Laban	2001	Mali K7
Worotan	1996	World Circuit WCD 045	Originally released on cassette as Denw
Ko Sira	1993	World Circuit WCD 036
Moussolou	1991	World Circuit WCD 021	Initially released on the Syllart label in 1990

Page added March 1998

Frank Bessem's Musiques d'Afrique

Oumou Sangaré(Mali)

Oumou Sangaré
(Mali)