WOMAD

Oumou Dioubate

From Guinea

Nicknamed 'La Femme Chic-Choc', Oumou Dioubate is the most successful and controversial female singer from Guinea. Born into a prominent family of Griots, she is however far from the conventional praise singer that being a Jeli implies.Working in a modern musical idiom mixed with rolling harmonies of her native Mandinka tradition, Oumou's music is aimed mainly at the dance floor, and her latest album 'Wambara' is no exception. It has a powerful message too, reflecting her struggle for personal freedom, both artistically and as a woman. Oumou's 1999 performance at The Barbican, London had the capacity audience in a frenzy; swinging to that Manding thing...Press:"The gutsiest moment comes with 'Ca Suffit Comme Ca', which keeps its African feel in the teeth of dance beats and French rapping".Chris Stapleton, Q Magazine"'Wambara' has stunning melody lines and irrepressible beats from a real individual".Richard Trillo, Wanderlust Magazine