Mah Damba
| Mah Damba | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Mah Sissoko |
| Born |
1965 (age 50–51) Bamako, Mali |
| Occupation(s) | Griot, singer |
| Associated acts | Kassemady Diabaté, Mandé Foli |
Mah Damba (born Mah Sissoko in Bamako, Mali, 1965) is a traditional griot singer. She comes from a family of griots: her father, Djeli Baba Sissoko (not to be confused with the younger musician Baba Sissoko), was a griot and her aunt, Fanta Damba, is also considered a top vocalist.
Early in her career, she was part of Kassemady Diabaté's ensemble, and later was part of Mandé Foli. She recorded two solo albums, Nyarela (Buda/Musique du Monde) in 1997 and Djelimousso, Mali: The Voice of the Mande (Trema/Sony) in 2000, as contributed three tracks to The Divas from Mali (World Network) in 1998. In 1999, she contributed vocals to one track on composer Jonathan Elias' international choral project, The Prayer Cycle.[1]
Her band is composed of traditional instruments, such as the ngoni (played by her husband Mamaye Kouyaté), kora (played by Djeli Moussa Diawara) and bala (played by Lansiné Kouyaté).
References
- ↑ Jonathan Elias The Prayer Cycle. Billboard. 20 March 1999. p. 24. Retrieved 27 May 2010.