Origins & Early Life

Oumou Sangaré (Fula: umu sangare; born 25 February 1968) is a Malian Wassoulou singer of Fulani descent. She is often referred to as "The Songbird of Wassoulou". Wassoulou is a historical region south of the Niger River, where the music descends from age-old traditional song, often accompanied by a calabash. Sangaré was born in 1968 to singer Aminata Diakité and Sidiki Sangaré, both of whom originated from the Wassoulou region of Mali.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

In 1970, her father took a second wife and moved to Abidjan, Ivory Coast, leaving Sangaré, her mother and her siblings behind in Bamako, the Malian capital. Sangaré began singing in the streets to help her mother, leaving school at an early age to do so. Her career began in 1973 when at the age of five she won an inter-kindergarten singing competition in Bamako and performed before an audience of several thousands at the Omnisport stadium. At the age of 16, she went on tour with the percussion group Djoliba, touring in France, Germany, the Netherlands, the Caribbean, and elsewhere. Inspired by her reception on tour, Sangaré returned to Bamako and established her own musical group.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Sangaré recorded her first album, Moussoulou...

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

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