Daouda Sidibé, Artist
"I returned to reconquer the Malian scene"

Excellent player of kamelen n’goni, author, composer and interpreter, Daouda Sidibé is installed in Ivory Coast since more than a decade. But, since a few weeks, he is back to the fold. In this conversation, he speaks about the subject of this stay, recalls the main event of his career and speaks of the piracy which is a threat for his projects.
Interview!

Mag: Why did you return back in the country?
Daouda Sidibé: I returned to Mali to start again the promotion of my albums. I already have four on sale. They are: "Gnanafing" (Nostalgia, 1996), "Selen Konoba", "Didadi" and "Bamoye". Indeed there were promotion campaigns at the release of these albums, but they were not supported by clips. Certain clips produced for this purpose have not been diffused in Mali. With Mali K7, which is the partner of my company of production, we will start again these works thanks to a supported media campaign and with the realization of clips. Today, my ambition is to impose my style on the Malian musical scene. It’s as a conqueror that I returned to the fold.
- Can you recall us the main events of your career?
D.S: my profession at first was tailor. I was specialized in the female seam and, from 1982 to 1985, I had my workshop in Niaréla. I started playing the kamelen n’goni in 1980. It’s passion that led me to this instrument very popular in Wassoulou from where I am originating. At the beginning, I played for my own pleasure. And, people very quickly appreciated my music. Thus I was invited to ceremonies of marriage and to other artistic and cultural events. The unconditional support of my fans added to the multiple different musical experiences pushed me to improve myself. The result is here today (4 albums on sale), even if it is not an end in itself, it allows me to measure the covered way. I have also set up an orchestra, "Selen Konoba".
- Did you already work with famous artists?
D.S: You know, an instrumentalist who constantly seeks to improve himself is always solicited by his fellow-men.I worked with Amy Koïta on her album "Sarama" (2000). I also worked with Alpha Blondy, Aïcha Koné, Doussou Bagayogo, etc.
- What led you to Ivory Coast?
D.S: We had been invited to a marriage in Abidjan in 1990. We were to return as soon as the ceremony would end. But, some promoters retained me by contracts. I thus animated concerts for seven months. They did all their best in order to keep me there. Finally, I married and settled down in Abidjan.
- What are the difficulties that the Malians encounter in Ivory Coast?
D.S: Nobody ignores the situation in Ivory Coast since the death of Felix Houphouët-Boigny. It’s the foreigners who particularly bear the cost of this socio-political crisis. It’s not good any more to be a Dioula in this country, all the more being Malian or Burkinabese. Besides that, the Malian artists have no particular difficulties. We are only often confronted to the problem of payment of our royalties. We need an authorization of the Malian Office of the authors’ rights (BUMDA) so that we can collect our rights in Ivory Coast. That often takes time.
- What did music bring to your life?
D.S: Thank Goodness! I don’t have to complain. Indeed, I have not made a fortune yet in music, but I manage to provide for my needs. I also managed to tie many relations which allow me today to evolve in my career.
- Is the extent of piracy the same in Mali and Ivory Coast?
D.S: Piracy exists everywhere. The Ivory Coast is not an exception. It’s only that piracy does not have the same width in Mali as in Ivory Coast where it is vigorously fought by the authorities. The pirates hide to sell their products whereas in Mali, it’s in broad daylight that they sell off the pirated products as if they carried on a legal activity. That is inadmissible. The artists can only complain and take the opinion as a witness on their misery. But, it’s the role of the authorities to repress this organized larceny. It is said that even if the knife is sharp, it cannot cut itself. In the same way, even if the artists have the talent and success, they cannot protect themselves against some plagues like piracy. They have right to the protection of the authorities like the other citizens. And it is time to act because piracy became revolting in Mali.
- Do you have projects?
D.S: If I succeed to re-launch my works on the Malian market, I will enter in studio for a new album. I cannot tell you when, but it won’t take long. I am very advanced in this project because I’ve already composed enough of songs.
Remarks collected
By King Moseto

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