Roberto Magic Sapeur
 
 
The return of Roberto Magic Sapeur
Still at the service of women


He had attracted himself the enthusiasm and the sympathy of the female junta with his first opus, "Jamanatiew", released in July 2000. And Roberto Magic Sapeur is back; a crashing return with "Mounékadi" in which the trendy young people are always at the honour.
Harouna Sylla, of his real name, wants to maintain the rate of his fulgurating success with "Jamanatiew", the album which brought him an immense national notoriety. And the confirmation’s name is "Mounékadi" which is also the name of the hit.
This choice is not hazardous since it is an anthem to women and to love. "In life, each one has his taste concerning culinary art, music, or dressing…; but, nothing is more delicious than love ", explains the singer. He specifies, "I dreamed to buy a car. But, the day I carried out this dream, I realized that my life still missed of savour. I then wonder what was softest in the life. And I tell you that it is incontestably love. In life, nothing goes without love and no one can undertake anything successfully without women ".
Moreover his musical career is a history of passion and love. Feelings which led him to Papa Gaoussou Diarra "Pèkèlè" during at least three years to control the art of the song. He thereafter will harden his knowledge with Soumy of the band "Zions B" before flying of his own wings in July 2000 with “Jamanatiew”.
"Mounékadi", his second album, comprises 8 titles made up and arranged by the young artist himself. It was recorded at the Studio Bogolan of Mali K7. Roberto profited from the complicity of another wonder of the Malian music, Binké Traoré, at the drums. The work already meets a great success with promotion tracks like, Mounékadi and Fotè Maban. This last song is an answer to his detractors who had orchestrated a denigration campaign against him because they were jealous of his enormous success. "They said everywhere that I had a friend who was HIV positive and that I shared a girlfriend with him. They said everywhere that I was infected by the HIV. I never counteracted because in my opinion, it is the price of fame ", he explains with an astonishing serenity.
Fortunately, Jamanatiew did not only bring denigrations to the artist. "I did not win anything with the sale of the album because it was pirated. Nevertheless, the success which it had launched me on the national scene where I was regularly solicited to animate spectacles a little everywhere in the country ", explains the lawyer defender of the women to whom he owes his great notoriety. His notoriety also enabled him to be requested outside, particular in France, Belgium and Germany. Better, it is with the receipts of his first album that he has produced Mounékadi.
This self-production is not a fortuitous choice. "Some wormy producers had decided to boycott my album for the simple reason that I did not hesitate to carry out alone the battle against piracy. Instead of congratulating me, they took it wrong… The distribution of this product is entrusted to Malik7 SA; I think that we will make a good bargain together since it is the first to fight against piracy."
Today, there is no doubt that Roberto Magic is an essential value of Malian music. In addition to music, Roberto is devoted to the hairstyle of the trendy young people of the capital. "It is true that I was already known as a hairdresser but I admit that the music was the catalyst of my trade of hairdresser because since the release of my first disc, much people come to do their hair by me. In Mali no one can live on music, we are obliged to make other activities to supplement our incomes "explains Roberto.
Mounékadi will be on sale very soon, an album which is likely to make jealous ones again because our artist decided to stand for the women.

Bowmboï awarded a price
The rose of the beledougou Rokia Traoré was nominated at the BBC AWARDS 2004 for her last album "Bowmboï", elected as the best world music album of the year. The Malian artist will take part in the grouped concert which will be animated by the prizes winner and who will be retransmitted on BBC 4 on March 12 and on March 13 on the radio3 of the English Chanel.

Two birds with one stone
Toma Sidibé, who is in Bamako since two week for the promotion of his new album live, seized the occasion to record two titles of his future album at the studio Bogolan. During four days, Toma and his band competed of creativity for the recording of this future album which will be completed in France by other titles.

Back from his meditation travel
The famous realizer of the emission "Top étoiles ", M’baye Boubacar Diarra, returned last week of his meditation travel. The one who will be called from now on El Hadj M’baye passed in our office and did many blessings to us.

Mawa Traoré in Bamako
Last Tuesday, Mawa Traoré arrived in the Malian capital from Abidjan. The charming lady is in the Malian capital for the recording of her next album at the studio Bogolan. The album will be arranged by Cheick Diabaté. In our next issue, we will discuss with the star of Ivory Coast about her life.

PB 01/03/2004