Nahawa Doumbia

Nahawa Doumbia is one of the most popular singers from the Wassoulou region in southern Mali. She speaks to the younger generation of West Africa through her lyrics about love, the position of women in Malian society, and the plight of African refugees in France.

Nahawa was born in Mafélé (Mali), a little village located near the border between Mali and Ivory Coast. A few days after she gave birth to Nahawa, her dying mother predicted her daughter a great career as a singer, though she did not belong to the griot caste.

"Nobody was allowed to sing in my family. That is why it has been so hard for me to come to music. One day, agents of the Malian Ministry of Culture came to see my father and told him that I should take part in the Youth Week local event. He refused, but I eventually was able to take part in it. Then I came to Bamako to compete at the Youth Biennial, an event showing young artistic talents from Mali. I have been prized in 1980 with one of my songs ("Tinye de be laban"). It was the very beginning of my career."

Nahawa is now a star in Mali. The charm of her thin, childish voice made her one of the vocal references from western Africa. The queen of didadi — a rhythm from the Wassoulou region danced by young people at ceremonies and celebrations — decided to return to Wassoulou instrumental tradition with balafon, djembe, kamélé n'goni, and guitars.

— Courtesy Calabash Music