CMU Approved

Approved: Oumou Sangaré

By | Published on Tuesday 4 April 2017

Oumou Sangaré

Malian singer Oumou Sangaré is back with her sixth album, and her first since 2009’s ‘Seya’. Set for release on 19 May, the new LP – ‘Mogoya’ (meaning “people today”) – sees her working more modern production into her sound, aided by working with French production trio Albert, while still staying true to the traditional music she has previously worked with.

“This time round I wanted to go for more of a modern sound, to satisfy young people in Mali, but being careful, all the while, to respect my culture and tradition”, says Sangaré. “It was new for me because my music has never had this kind of arrangement and sound before. I’ve been totally in the tradition for years now so to get out of that and have a look around elsewhere was a total pleasure”.

First single, ‘Yere Faga’, which features legendary afrobeat drummer Tony Allen, was released earlier this year and is now accompanied by a new video. Video director Chris Saunders comments: “Oumou’s powerful Wassoulou lyrics needed to be translated through the movement in the video – to reflect her message of never giving up, of finding mechanisms to succeed. The video is a story of an empowered young African woman, one comparable to the great Oumou herself”.

You can catch Sangaré live in London on 17 May, just ahead of the album release. And you can watch the video for ‘Yere Faga’ here now:

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