Mariam Sidibé, School-teacher and artist
Success after a life of suffering

She initially won fame by being a teacher who has a great affection for children. But her inspiration is also a cry of the heart against social plagues and an anthem for love, peace and socio-economic integration of women. Her name is Mariam Sidibé; she’s an artist who knew one of the greatest successes of 2002 with her first album, "Mousso fassa". At last, happiness smiles to this nice girl who lived a real life of suffering without ever envying anybody.
Profile of the Malian scene’s pedagogue.
Mousso fassa, an album of eight titles, a shining try transformed into success thanks to the cordial reception the music lovers reserved to it, especially women. This is hardly surprising because, in addition to the vibrating homage paid to women, Mariam celebrates tolerance, love, marriage… and encourages the schooling of the girls; topical themes which do not leave anybody indifferent with a suave interpretation and an excellent arrangement. She’s a national star; Mariam Sidibé took part in several women’s demonstrations on sensitizing against exclusion, AIDS, excision, fight against poverty, emancipation of women and education of girls. "Mousso fassa", is not only the concretization of the passion and the talent of Mariam Sidibé. It is also a victory over the difficulties which staked out her life and often forced her to take ways contrary to her ambitions. One then understands her late apparition on the musical scene. "I started singing at five years old. My elder brother, Bréhima Sidibé, played the kamelen n‘goni. I tried to interpret well-known songs of the folklore. Thus I quickly became a small star unknown to my parents. At that time, we lived in Boulkassoumbougou.", remembers the rising star. She adds, "When my father heard my passion for music, he called me to order because his wish was to see me going to school and becoming an executive of this country. His ambition was to see me making serious studies".Well educated and very intelligent, Mariam followed the advice of her father, even if she sang for her comrades in the playground and at the moonlight parties. Mariam unfortunately lost her father when she was in 3rd fundamental year. "It was the beginning of the problems because he left several children depending upon my mother and they couldn’t almost do anything by themselves. I suffered a lot because I had nothing. It often happened that I went to school with two shoes of different colour, marks and size…"; A real life of suffering despite the courage of her mother. The difficulties forced the family to settle in the village sheltered from the defects and the need. Moreover, it is in the village that the words solidarity and mutual aid take all their meaning.
But, it did not cut into the determination of the small girl to do her best to respect the will of her father in order to honour his memory. This ran counter to the will of her uncles who wanted at all costs to marry her. Always having the best notes in music, she seduced her English and music professor, Djibril Ballo. This one integrated her in the group that he had founded in Sikorolen (Yanfolila). "Our first repetition was like a concert", she remembers. Transferred to Sikasso, Djibril Ballo brought her with him. In 1994, she represented the area of Sikasso to a festival in Kignan and she distinguished there as the best revelation of the event. Thereafter, the young talent had several dedications and price of excellence.
After the DEF in 1994, Mariam is oriented to the Centre of technical and commercial teaching (CETEC) then to the modern technical School (CTM). Her studies were sanctioned in 1998 by a certificate of technician as a secretary of direction. "I was unemployed during one year. Annoyed by this situation which did not arrange me because I depended upon myself only; I decided to integrate the Institute of the trainings of teachers (IFM) of Sévaré". Since the end of her studies in 2001, Mariam teaches at the School of fundamental excellence of Torokorobougou.
The studies did not manage to move Mariam away from music. In 2002, guided by her love for the culture and her musical passion, she contacts the publishing and production society "Kaarta" in order to launch out in the showbiz. With Kaarta, she’s engaged for 5 years; a sufficient time to harden her talent and to exploit her immense artistic potentialities. The same year, she finalizes her first album, "Mousso fassa".
Courageous and talented, Mariam continues to combine her love of teaching and her passion for music. "It is not easy to associate. Teaching takes me too much time. Because of the school constraints, I could not suitably occupy of the promotion of my album ", explains the young star. But it‘s not question, for the moment, to give up teaching for music. "It is true that it is by social constraint that I chose teaching. But, I don’t want to abandon it for music", specifies" Mousso fassa ". That’s how her pupils, her colleagues and her fans call her now since the success of her hit.
The choice of this charming and elegant Fulani woman is easy to understand. "I love the children. With them, the relations are always sincere and frank. They cannot cheat with the feelings of the others. Teaching is also a way of promotion for me through the various requests for the animation of the artistic and cultural events. My experience of teacher enables me to face easily the mass without complex or anxiety. Accustomed to face the glance of my pupils, I feel at ease on scene in a packed hall"; she confesses.
About thirty, Mariam is today well launched to realise her social and artistic ambitions. The success of her first attempt opened the doors of the showbiz to her. Presently, she works with Kadia Lellé on an album of four titles not intended for the sale. It’s a work of sensitizing of the Project-AIDS of the GTZ. On this work, three tracks are intended for the social mobilization against the pandemia of HIV and a title to the schooling of girls. "After this work, I will try to enter the studio to record a second album”; a project on which she is rather advanced. Undoubtedly, as a pedagogue, she will be able to compose songs which will consolidate the enormous success of Mousso fassa. She promises to put on a spurt in order to offer another wonder to her fans. And she will not be in shortage of talent to hold her promise and to realise her ambitions.
Good luck Mariam.

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