NAHAWA DOUMBIA

Nahawa Doumbia was born in Mafélé in the Sikasso region of Mali, near to the border with the Ivory Coast. As her mother tragically died shortly after her birth Doumbia was raised by her grandparents who resided in Manankoro, near Bougoni (south of Mali’s Capital Bamako), the most important city in the Wassoulou region.

Before her mother died, she predicted that her daughter would become a singer, and despite opposition from her grandparents Doumbia went out of her way to perfect her talent, practicing with friends and in 1980 she was spotted by civil servants working for the country’s Ministry of Culture who invited her to perform for their Ministry’s National Youth Week which was organized to discover new talent. Doumbia won first prize at the contest which brought her government support for her singing and allowed her to continue to develop her style based on the traditional didadi rhythm from her region. In 1988 she released her first album, Didadi.

Over the next two years she was able to collaborate with a host of reputable African musicians such as Congolese guitarist Rigo Star, Cameroonian singer Georges Seba, percussionist Papa Kouyaté and members of Salif Keita’s ensemble.

After releasing Mangoni she really began to discover her own individuality as an artist which started to flower in her album Yankaw, released in 1977. Being a feminist Doumbia’s lyrics powerfully speak out against polygamy and for the rights of women and children, and these views were aired on her album Bougoni.

Doumbia’s album Yaala perhaps reflects one of the finest points in her career to date. Working with her band, who played largely traditional instruments (such as the Balafon, Kemel’Ngoni, Djembe, Bass and acoustic guitar), plus French producer/guitarist Claude Barthélémy, she forged a truly incisive sound that captured her voice at the height of its power. During this time Doumbia also appeared on Frederic Galliano’s acclaimed Frikyiwa Collection.