Performer, musician, band: Oumou Dioubate Album name: Wambara Original CD year: 1999 Comment: Label: Stern'S Africa. BelaRues Collection   -> see cd-cover in real size <-   01. Ladiya 02. Rokiya 03. Wambara 04. Kouma Masni 05. El HaDJ 06. CA Suffit Comme CA 07. Mawe 08. Mo Ye Banna 09. Dama Tami 10. Kalil 11. Kouman DJan 83.40 Mb MORE: Oumou Dioubate 1964 - GUINEA Language: Maninka Genre: Modern manding Instrument: Female vocals Biography Oumou Dioubate comes from Kankan, Guinea. Her mother was a well known Griotte and singer, and Oumou began singing at the age of 7. When the mother suddenly died Oumou, then 13, took her place in the traditional "Kankan Ensemble". The teenager then married a relative who was a teacher and musician, and the couple moved to Conakry, Guinea's capitol. There they formed the band, Les Messagers de Morfing, and Oumou began to develop a more modern singing style. Many believe she went too far with her modernity, but Oumou Dioubate had decided to go her own way and, in the mid 1980s, relocated to Paris. It was there that she had her breakthrough as a backing singer for Ismael Lo, on his "N'Diawar" album. The producer Ibrahim Sylla heard her and decided to make a solo album with her ("Lancey" ? Sterns Africa). The album was a great success in Guinea in the 1990s when, after a long pause, it was finally released. The reason for the delay was Oumou Dioubate's provocative lyrics. She sings, among other things, that she will perform a traditional dance - naked - in order to become pregnant. When she returned from Paris it was impossible for her to live together with her husband. She earned sufficient money from "Lancey" to enable her to buy a new house for herself and her child. Oumou Dioubate is a much discussed and disputed artist in Guinea and has had to withstand many rumours and personal attacks for her modern and open style. Relevant artists: Sekouba Bambino Sekouba BambinoKandia Kouyate Diskography: LANCEY Sterns Africa/1995 FEMMES D'AFRIQUE Syllart/1997 WAMBARA Sterns Africa/1999 Oumou Dioubate presents a very sympathetic album with modern, jazzed-up Mandinka tradition music here. "Wambara" is, by the way, much more than traditional Manding; Oumou pulls into her music many elements, among them reggae and salsa. The production is as exclusive as it sounds, and so it should with "Africando Productions" behind it. Oumou shows some rebellious and feministic perspectives in her lyrics - she says, among other things, that a woman should leave a man who behaves in an "antisocial" fashion. Musically speaking, this moves lightly and effortlessly, with exciting arrangements of both traditional Manding and modern instruments in the backing, and these go together in an unusual organic way. Maybe this is sometimes a little too smooth and pop-like in places, but it's difficult not to be caught up by what this sensual lady brings to market. ESSENTIEL Syllart/1999 TELE BANA JAT MUSIC/2000 leopardmannen.no