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Oumou Sangare (Mali)
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Elsewhere in Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔi : CD Review | WOMAD concert audio
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The word 'comeback' usually describes a return to form or commercial success. But the recent high profile of the celebrated 'songbird of Wassoulou', is more a result of refocussing her attention on the 'western' world music market after several years of concentrating on family life and catering to her huge fanbase in Africa. Mali's number one diva has never really been away.
Most of Mali's female singers are griottes, whose songs are largely versions of traditional songs tailored to suit the egos of contemporary patrons in the 'praise singing' tradition. However, in the Wasulu area of southern Mali, where Oumou Sangare's family originated, singers are free of this role and can address a wider cross section of the public more honestly and directly.
Oumou's decision to sing about issues of morality, spirituality and social justice - in particular women's rights - would have earned her a huge following anyway. But she also writes most of her material, and has the kind of goose-pimple inducing voice that comes along only once in a generation. These factors combined with her fresh electro-acoustic take on the infectiously funky pentatonic music of Wasulu brought her spectacular success throughout West Africa in 1990, when her extraordinary debut album Moussolou was released. It was soon licensed for global distribution by World Circuit and followed up by Ko Sira (1993) and Worotan (1996).
She's been far from idle since, producing cassettes for her local market, building a hotel and touring Africa, but only with the recent double CD Oumou has her apparent silence been broken. Apart from remastered vintage cuts, it includes newly revamped material from her 2001 Malian release Laban. And Oumou has been touring outside Africa again for the first time in years, to a predictably ecstatic response from her fans.
"I thought maybe they'd forgotten about me, but they hadn't," she reflects. How could they? The songbird is flying high once again and singing as strongly as ever.
Jon Lusk, November 2003
 Read other peoples comments
i am moroccan i dont udersatnd the lyrics, but i just loved her voice, will definetlly get her CDs. really enjoyed the track above.
aziz
My favourite female singer, made me cry, when I first heard her and I didn't understand the words. Very powerful voice with strong messages.
max douglas
Just seen her on tour in Bristol UK. Fantastic. What presence! A real diva.
Alistair Clark
although it's mainly a best of,the extra 8 tracks make this a welcome addition to my collection if this songbird.
rick heritage
She moves me, man!
Juma
the energy is infectious. I'll
definitely check out her CD.
amina
Sweetest female voice of her
generation.
A Ceesay
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