Mamou Sidibe's father is an experienced balafon player and her mother is a famous singer. She forged her talent at their sides.
As a teenager, she sings to encourage the peasants in the fields. When she decides to make a singing career, she leaves her village to settle in Bamako. And, in the '80s she joins the group Oumou Sangaré as a chorus-singer.
"With Oumou Sangaré, I learned much," she said. "She reinforced my passion for the music."
Through the sumu, the ceremonies of baptism and marriage, Mamou consolidates her assets and leaves Oumou Sangaré. Caprice? Rather desire to undertake a career solo. But ten years will pass before she can prove her talent.
Finally, she begins repetitions with Moussa Koné: "When Mamou came here, at the beginning of 1998, in spite of her beautiful voice, she had to work a lot. I even thought that she was going to give up. But she remained courteous and was never irritated," said Yves Wernert of Mali K7.
Endowed of a formidable capacity of work and a savage will, Mamou Sidibé manages to achieve her goal with her first recording.
Nakan (The destiny), her first album — produced by Philippe Berthier, realized by Yves Wernert and arranged by Moussa Koné — launched Mamou into the court of the divas of the Malian song.
— Courtesy Calabash Music
