Ami Koita brings a woman's perspective to the music of Mali. Known for her powerful vocals and dynamic stage presence, Koita has become a role model for the women of West Africa. Although she was born in Kirina -- the same village as Salif Keita -- Koita comes from a much different ancestral background. While Keita was born to a family of... [+] Read More

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In 1990, Wassoulou singer Sangare became a superstar in West Africa with Moussolou, which sold an astonishing 250,000 copies (many more were likely pirated). She received much of her attention for writing and singing lyrics that specifically addressed concerns of women in modern West African society, such as the conflict between marriage and... [+] Read More

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Salif Keita gave up a lot to pursue his dreams of a career in music. Born to royal lineage, with ancestral roots going back to Soundjata Keita, the founder of the Malian Empire in 1240, Keita was disowned by his father after announcing his plans to play music. Keita's dreams, however, were too strong to be shattered. Moving to the capitol city... [+] Read More

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Like many children born into jali families, Kouyate began singing at a young age, joining the Malian National Ensemble and traveling to the 1967 Pan-African Music Festival with them. She became one of Mali's most popular singers, traveling all over the country and performing traditional jali classics and praise songs. In 1984, a wealthy patron... [+] Read More

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