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Adama Yalomba
(Mali)
Biography
Adama Yalomba is a singer, composer, and instrumentalist (guitar, n'goni, dan). He learnt to play
the dan from his father, Samandji Traoré. The
dan
is an instrument of
6 strings, each of them on a separate bracket, mounted to a calabash. It is played on public areas to welcome those who return from a stay abroad.
His musical education took 15 years, and brought about musical encounters with the Balazan de Segou and Bronkoni de Niono. In 1992, he left for Bamako and played with (among others) Hawa Dramé, Bakoroba Diabaté and Nanou Coul.
He recorded his first cassette in 1995, which was quite successful in Mali. Two other cassettes followed, one solo recording and one together with Awa Bako Diabaté. Finally, he recorded a solo album « M'Bora » in 2000 with Yves Wernert as producer, an album with 10 songs in various styles, but in a way following the lines of Issa Bagayogo and Habib Koite. Following the release, Adama has been touring extensively in Mali, but he also performed at the Rain Forest Festival in Malaysia in 2002 and in France (Tour de scènes 2004, Angers).
Adama Yalomba's music is featured on some samplers, such as Festival in the Desert and African Odyssey on Putumayo. In October 2004, he performed at the WOMEX congress in Germany. In summer 2007, he tours in France, Belgium, Ireland and the Netherlands. A long announced first international release, « Kassa », was finally released in 2009.
Christophe Barbe-Gayet has made a documentary short movie on Yalomba's Mali tour.
His musical education took 15 years, and brought about musical encounters with the Balazan de Segou and Bronkoni de Niono. In 1992, he left for Bamako and played with (among others) Hawa Dramé, Bakoroba Diabaté and Nanou Coul.
He recorded his first cassette in 1995, which was quite successful in Mali. Two other cassettes followed, one solo recording and one together with Awa Bako Diabaté. Finally, he recorded a solo album « M'Bora » in 2000 with Yves Wernert as producer, an album with 10 songs in various styles, but in a way following the lines of Issa Bagayogo and Habib Koite. Following the release, Adama has been touring extensively in Mali, but he also performed at the Rain Forest Festival in Malaysia in 2002 and in France (Tour de scènes 2004, Angers).
Adama Yalomba's music is featured on some samplers, such as Festival in the Desert and African Odyssey on Putumayo. In October 2004, he performed at the WOMEX congress in Germany. In summer 2007, he tours in France, Belgium, Ireland and the Netherlands. A long announced first international release, « Kassa », was finally released in 2009.
Christophe Barbe-Gayet has made a documentary short movie on Yalomba's Mali tour.
Adama Yalomba
• Musicians on "M'bora":
Adama Yalomba Traore vocals, n'goni, dan, yalomba;
Diadié Traoré acc. guitar, backing vocals;
Makara Bagayoko bass;
Dramane Diarra calabash, backing vocals;
Mama Sissoko guitar;
Awa Diabaté backing vocals
Adama Yalomba Traore vocals, n'goni, dan, yalomba;
Diadié Traoré acc. guitar, backing vocals;
Makara Bagayoko bass;
Dramane Diarra calabash, backing vocals;
Mama Sissoko guitar;
Awa Diabaté backing vocals
Born: 20 January 1974, as Adama Traoré, in Ké-Macina
Style: afro-pop / guitar / ngoni music
Discography
| Title | Year | Label | Remarks |
| Waati Sera | 2016 | MesaBluemoon Recordings / Studio Mali | |
| Namarako | 2014 | Camara Production | Digital re-release of Dumuni |
| Kassa | 2009 | Metis Records/Makasound | |
| Dumuni | 2004 | Mali K7 S.A. | Local cassette/CD production |
| M'Bora | 2001 | Mali K7 S.A. | Local cassette/CD production |
| Gnumankè | 199? | Samassa Records (cassette) | Album with Awa Bako Diabaté |
| Ni Kelenni Kadi | 1997 | Labita | Cassette-only production |
| Yalomba | 1995 | Maikano | Cassette-only production |
Sources
Page added March 2003