Oumou Sangare (b.1968) The Songbird of Wassoulou

Oumou is a Grammy Award winning Malian Wassoulou musician from Bamako, Mali.

In 1970 , aged just 2, she was brought up by her mother, Aminata Diakite.

Her career 'began ’ at the age of 5 when she won an inter-kindergarten singing competition in Bamako, at the Omnisport Stadium, in front of an audience of several thousand.

She left school at an early age and began singing in the streets to help her mother.

Aged 16 she went on tour with the percussion group Djoliba to Europe and the Caribbean.

Inspired by her reception on tour she established her own musical group.

In 1990 recorded her first album* Moussoulou* (Women) with Amandou Ba Guindo - 200,000 copies sold. (in total recorded 8 albums -see Discography)

She is considered an ambassador of Wassoulou. Her music has been inspired by the music and traditional dances of the area.

Since 1990 she has performed at some on the most important venues in the world.

Oumou . is an advocate for women’s rights, opposing child marriage and polygamy. In 2003 she was named ambassador for FAO.

In 2022 she was cast in her first acting role.

She does not want to become a politician
While you’re an artist, you’re free to say what you think, when you are a politician you follow instructions from higher up. Oumon Sangare

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