DEATH OF MAMADOU COULIBALY
The pioneer took his leave.

The great family of the Culture is once again in mourning. Indeed, it has just lost the one who was considered, rightly, like the pioneer of the protection and the promotion of the artists’ right in Mali: Mamadou Coulibaly. The great defender of the artists took his leave last Thursday at the hospital Gabriel Touré. The evil which corroded him for a long time finally get the upper hand of him. His funerals proceeded in the morning of Friday in his native village, Mana (circle of Bougouni).
Qualified element of the direction of the cultural Action, Mamadou Coulibaly was the second director of the Malian Office for the royalties (BUMDA). He directed this office during at least a decade. He’s the one who gave to the BUMDA a real scale. Having inherited of an office which existed almost only virtually, he managed to organize it in a right way for the protection and the promotion of the rights of the national and foreign creators. Thus He is the precursor of the struggle against piracy. It is to Mamadou Coulibaly that we owe the first seizures of the pirated tapes. His combat was tireless against the grave-diggers of the music even of Malian art.
But after the revolution of Mars 1991, he was one of the victims of certain wormy persons. He was thus replaced in the BUMDA. But apart from the BUMDA, he always contributed to serve the Malian culture, especially the artists of whom he was the friend, the brother and the adviser. And for a certain time, one spoke more and more about his probable return to the BUMDA. And much were already pleased because this return was to clear up the musical horizon obscured by piracy. Unfortunately, the Almighty decided differently. He snatched him from the affection of us all this Thursday morning.
Qualified person, master in laws and cultural marketing, Mamadou Coulibaly illustrated by his devotion, his effectiveness, his intellectual rigour, his moral probity and especially by his modesty and his humility. Untiring worker, it is only recently that the evil which corroded him could nail him to bed. His death is an immense loss for the department of the Culture and especially for all the great family of Malian art. So lay in peace courageous pioneer. Mali K7 and all the artists join the pain of the mourning family. This mourning is ours before all because we have lost a brother, a friend, a counsellor… a lawyer of the creators, producers, etc.
Lay in the infinite grace of Allah with the insurance that the torch that you transmitted to us will never… die out.
King Mosseto

MAMOU SIDIBE
Born of a peasant family, Mamou Sidibé did not come in the music randomly. Indeed, her father is an experienced balafon player and her mother a famous singer. She forged her talent at their sides. She was characterized especially by the beauty and the purity of her vocal cord. Later, she is remarked during the feasts of the village at the moonlight. Teenager, she sings to encourage the peasants in the fields. Well decided to make a career, Mamou leaves her village to settle in Bamako. And, in the Eighties she integrates the group of Oumou Sangaré. Chorus-singer, she takes part in the realization of her first album which had a huge success: "With Oumou Sangaré, I learned much, she reinforced my passion for the music", she specifies. Through the "Sumu", the ceremonies of baptism and marriage, Mamou consolidates her assets and leaves the group of Oumou Sangaré, Caprice? Rather desire to undertake a career solo. But ten years will have to pass before she can prove her talent... Finally, Mali K7 proposes a contract to her. She begins the 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 ", explains Yves Wernert. Endowed of a formidable capacity of work and a savage will, Mamou Sidibé manages to achieve her goal with her first recording. Success is at the end of the effort. "Nakan" (the destiny), her first album, realized by Yves Wernert and arranged by Moussa Koné, Mamou is launched in the court of the divas of the Malian song. The Score is eloquent: twenty thousand cassettes sold in the current of the first month of sale. This bright success exceeds the Malian borders and propels the lady of Ganadougou on the European scenes. She does her first international exit in December 2000 in famous Festival "Africolor" of Saint-Denis (France). This first attempt was also a great success. The young star of Techno becomes a pet coveted by the promoters of spectacles. She then aligns a series in seven concerts in France, Germany and Netherlands and participates to the Festival "Voix des femmes" in Brussels and Anvers last March. The first experiment exceeded the expectations. Mamou renews the deal with Mali k7 for a second album. This opus, «Musoya», is a real musical masterpiece. While continuing the experiment of the first work, "Musoya" is an original and innovating album, a modern album which knew how to preserve its heart, and its traditional inspiration. You will not resist the vibration of "Musoya" which will be released Thursday April 3, 2003 in cassette and CD.
Black Jack

Vigilance
Envisaged for last Monday, the trial in appeal of Mali K7 and the artists against the pirate distributor was finally remanded to May 5, 2003. It’s the second postponement of this trial so much awaited in the artistic world because it is symbolic. But the court wants to subpoena the customs for complementary information. And curiously, the statement of tapes seizure fraudulently manufactured and inserted in Mali appears in the file.
In any case, this is only postponement because the criminal or criminals will one day pay for their act. The time of impunity is ended because even the department of the Culture has understood the nobility and the economic and social utility of this trial. And as the Bambara say: " Don ka jan, a sébalitè ". That means that everything has an end. And when the end arrives, the “accounts are balanced” and each one pays his debts to his society and to the others.
This waiting appears long to us. But, it doesn’t weaken our conviction to carry out a noble combat against these "robbers of harvests". It doesn’t weaken either our confidence in justice because we are still convinced that, one day, the law will be proclaimed. And we remain on our guards so no one can ever weaken our distrust. Let us remain vigilant with Mali K7, Ali Farka Touré, Rokia Traoré, Habib Koïté, Mamou Sidibé, Issa Bagayogo… This trial is yours because the struggle against piracy concerns everybody, all the real music lovers, and all the goods citizens… of all the Malians!
The staking goes beyond the interests of the plaintiffs. Because, it’s the whole artistic radiance of the country which is concerned. Piracy is a serious threat to this great notoriety and this good cultural reputation that our artists gave to this country with so many efforts, generally in the pain. This asset is thus threatened today by these gangsters who only want to build small islands of prosperity by depriving the miserable majority of the fruits of his sweat.
The combat is exciting because the mission is now priesthood. Driven back, the pirates are now at bay. Thus let us remain vigilant.
King Mosseto