N° 40
December 01, 2003

Souley Kanté, Artist
Any new release of Souley Kanté on the musical market is an event. So the fans of the “son” of your servitor will be spoilt in the end of this year because their idol is coming back on stage with too sumptuous album.
"Nagnuman" and "Bi Magni" are the two new albums of Souley Kanté. The both confirm the talent of the young artist coming from Wassoulou. The wonderful melodies cleverly arranged by Alassane Soumano translate the maturity of the artist. In order to present a master piece to his fans as usual, the artist surrounded himself with virtuoso such as Amadou Boso, Kassim Sidibé, Bassidy and new revelation of Malian music such as Kadi Samaké (Massélalah) and Sadio Sidibé for the chorus. The two albums are produced by Jaamnaty Production of the very dynamic Aly Landouré and they will be released on December 2nd, 2003.

The first album "Nagnuman" is a classical work of 4 tracks in the spirit and in the melody “Sumu”. “It’s a first experience that responds to the expectation of several fans. They were waiting that of me for so long. So I was anxious to give them back in my way the love they have for me” said Souley Kanté. The second album "Bi Magni" has eight tracks and criticises the bad things of our society.

Born in 1964 in Sikorolen (Wassoulou), Souley Kanté explained that he was obliged to left school early because his family needed workers for the fields. He explains that he has always had a lot of pleasure in singing and that he “has always had the best marks in music at school before he left. But it’s Coumba Sidibé who gave me the envy to make an artistic career with the success of her song "Djiyayébanan" which inspired me a lot. So I prayed to have her talent and have success as much or more than her”. At the beginning, Souley worked with instruments’ players such as Siné Sidibé, Bénogo Diakité and Satigui Sidibé. His reputation spreading beyond the frontiers of the Wassoulou, he decided to come to live in the capital in order to have more opportunities to realise his dream: a real artistic career.

Thus he formed a band with the famous Sali Sidibé before making tours with the great diva Oumou Sangaré. “After this experiences that have been very enriching for me, I decided to make a solo career” explains the virtuoso of the kamelen n’goni. With his first album "Djinèko", Souley Kanté was considered as a sure asset of the Malian music. It is confirmed by hits such as "Fulaso", "Fasya", "Kôrôlen" and "Bi Magni" and "Nagnuman" which will soon be available on the radios.

All the works of Souley have been real success. “I don’t sing only for the pleasure. I take time to compose my songs so they can bring something more to those who will listen to them. And to satisfy music lovers, I inspire myself from the human behaviour, from social events, scourges traditions and customs…” he said to explains his success; success which is unfortunately not translated financially. He reckoned with bitterness and disappointment that he has never taken advantages from the success of his albums. Who’s guilty? “I think that the cupidity of the producers is the most important sore of the Malian music, they are the first pirates! The interest of the artist doesn’t mean anything to them. The essential for them is to have the maximum with the sales of the works and for that; they are able to come to terms with the devil. The rights of the artists are nothing to them” said the young smith.
In his opinion, the best arm to fight against piracy is the union of the artists and the adoption of severe laws against the scourge. In the meantime he’s been wise enough to change his producer and confide his destiny to Jaamnaty Production. The cooperation began two years ago with "Kôrôlen" and continued with "Bi Magni" and "Magnuman". Aly Landouré is serious and like is job. He cares about the interest of his artists but also about their lives. He’s one of the rare producers to make the promotion correctly… “I like his way of working and I think that I will succeed to do a lot of things with him” said the star of Sikorolen.

Artist, auto engineer, smith and traditional doctor, Souley Kanté hopes to conquer Africa and the whole world with the help of Jaamnaty and Mali K7. “Despite the success I have in my country, I’ve never had the chance to go on tours since I began my solo career. I hope I will fill this gap by try to enter the international show-biz”. He’s aware that the success of these two albums can be a stepping stone to realise his dream. So he hopes that his fans will support and help him in this way. The best way to help an artist is to sell or buy only legal works with the stickers of the Bumda.

Back to his owner…
In the Mag of last week (N°39), we said that the animator Bradox calls Lassy King Massassythe strong man of the regime”. This nickname is in fact the one of Yéli Fuzzo who’s presently studying in the United States and we apologize to him for this confusion and with the same occasion we encourage him. The nickname of Lassy King Massassy is King. The concert of dedication of his album will take place at the palace of culture on December 6th, 2003 instead of the stadium Mamadou Konaté as previously announced.


France grateful
“The child of the Khasso” Habib Koité and "Bambara Bluesman" Lobi Traore will receive at the end of the week the distinction of the "Chevalier de l'ordre des Arts et Lettres" at the residence of the ambassador of France in Mali. This distinction is one of the four ministerial ones of France and one of the principal decorations to honour persons who have won fame by their artistic or literary creations or by their contribution to the radiance of culture in France and in the world. He will receive this distinction from the hand of his Excellency Nicolas Normand, extraordinary and plenipotentiary French Ambassador in Mali.

End of tour
Oumou Sangaré and her band are back from the tour which followed her distinction as « ambassador of the FAO ». By World Circuit, they are activating for the release of her Best of; a double album retracing the whole career of the diva of the Wassoulou.

The musicians of Rokia Traoré came back last Monday from Paris where they ended the program of promotional concerts of the rose. They will stay in Bamako for two months before going for the United States at the beginning of February 2004. After 30 concerts in Europe, the musicians are at last with their family and spent a good feast of the Ramadan.

Best Sales 2003 in Mali
  Artiste Album
AA
 
Artiste
Album
AA
01
Seydou Camara Mali Den  
06
Idrissa Soumaoro Koté  
02
Mamou Sidibé
Foulbé  
07
Déniba Sanogo
Jolie  
03
Tata Diakité Djama  
08
Salif Keïta
Moffou  
04
Kon Kan Ko Sata
Moussouw  
09
Madou Camara
& Mah Kouyaté  
05
Tata Diakité
Hommage (Best Of)  
10
Rokia Traoré
Bowboï