Moussolou

Personnel: Oumou Sangare (vocals); Boubacar Diallo (guitar); Aliou Traore (violin); Ahmadou Ba Guindo (bass); Brehima Diakite (bongos, kamelngoni); Oumou Sinayoro, Nabintou Diakite (background vocals).
Recorded at Studio JBZ, Abidjan, Ivory Coast in February 1989.
Liner Note Author: Andy Morgan.
Oumou Sangare was born in 1968 in Bamako, Mali. MOUSSOLOU marks the European release of Sangare's first full-length album. "Diaraby Nene" catches fire with repetitive riffing and elaborate guitar ornamentation. This song would eventually gain wide international acclaim. The syncopated "Moussolou" is a call to the women of Mali to be true to themselves as an aching violin solo leads the way. On the closing cut "Ah Ndiya," Sangare engages in a call and response with her choral singers which is full of emotive texture. Much like Erykah Badu, Oumou Sangare provides a voice of empowerment for Malian women--and women everywhere--through her lyrics and her soulful voice.