Welcome to the Afrika Festival Hertme archive!
West African diva Oumou Sangaré is hailed for her bright voice, her fresh, sensual songs and her decisiveness. At 18 she was still singing in the streets of Bamako, Mali; three years later she already celebrated her major international breakthrough with her energetic, danceable songs. The success of her debut album Moussoulou (‘Women’) from 1990 was in part thanks to her lyrics, which openly broke with taboos.
In 1993, as a 25 year-old young woman she was on stage in Hertme.
In 2017 Oumou Sangaré is a diva and a role model for African women. She dares to tackle controversial subjects such as polygamy and female circumcision, but she also sings praise to female sensuality. With her bright voice and her unique, fresh approach of the traditional music of the hunters from the Wassoulou region she also hypnotizes Western audiences. Early 2017 saw the release of her new album on the French label Nø Førmat!
Oumou Sangaré, Lead Singer
Guimba Kouyaté, Guitar
Elise Blanchard, Bass guitar
Kandy Guira, Backing Vocals
Jon Grandcamp, Drums
Abou Diarra, Kamele N'Goni
Emma Lamadji, Backing Vocals
Alexandre Millet, Keys