Frank Bessem's Musiques d'Afrique: Fatoumata Dembelé

Frank Bessem's
Musiques d'Afrique:

Fatoumata Dembélé
(Burkina Faso)

Back to Musiques d'Afrique
Back to Musiques of Burkina Faso

Fatoumata Dembélé "Djeli Mama" is born from griot parents, which meant that as of the age of seven, she would accompany her mother who sang in ceremonies such as weddings. When she was 25 years old, she started singing alone during these ceremonies but she sometimes sang in a group as well. In 1998, she has been asked to join Farafina after the group had seen her perform during a music festival in Bobo-Dioulasso. She contributed to their 2001 album « Kanou ». Between 1999 and 2002, she toured extensively with Farafina, on various WOMAD festivals, as well as on other festivals in Holland, Germany (during the Expo 2000 in Hanover), France, Italy, Switzerland, Austria, Spain and Portugal. In 2003, she recorded a song with Solo Dja Kabako, a clip of this song was often broadcasted on Burkina and Malian TV. In 2004, she toured again with Farafina, and recorded three songs for the album « Sira Fila » by Burkinabe balafon player Mamadou Diabaté and his band Bekadiya.

In early 2006, Fatoumata was asked to join the Swiss world music band Taffetas, composed of Marc Liebeskind, Chérif "Nana" Cissokho, and Christophe Erard. She contributed to the recordings of their second album « Caméléon », released in the same year. In March 2007, her first solo album « N'naniba » came out, on which her warm and beautiful voice is accompanied by a small traditional ensemble of musicians. Based in Switzerland since 2003, she return frequently to Burkina Faso to perform during ceremonies. Along with her solo career, she continues to work with Farafina, Taffetas and with Bekadiya.

Musicians on the N'naniba album:
Fatoumata Dembélé: lead vocals, backing vocals, small percussion
Marc Liebeskind: guitar
Chérif "Nana" Cissokho: kora, backing vocals
Christophe Erard: bass, flutes, calabash, backing vocals
Allaye Diarra: balafon
Mamadou Zerbo: n'goni, vocals, percussion
Nabankur Bhattacharya: tabla
Ibou N'Diaye: sabar

Sources:
www.fatoumatadembele.com [external link]

Born: 1972, in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso
Style: vocal / traditional / mandingo / Westafrican.

Discography:

Title	Year	Label	Remarks
N'naniba	2007	Djeli Productions	solo CD