Musiques d'Afrique:
Mokontafe Sako (1934*-2002)
(Mali)
Musiques du Mali
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Frank Bessem's Musiques d'Afrique: Mokontafe Sako (1934*-2002) (Mali) |
Musiques d'Afrique Musiques du Mali |
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Mokontafe Sako has been one of the most prominent female singers of Mali during the first
two decades after independence. When the short-lived Federation du Mali broke up in August 1960, Mokontafé left Dakar
together with Modibo Keita's delegation to come back to Bamako. Being close to president Keita's family, she was soon
called to select singers and musicians to form the new Ensemble National Instrumental du Mali. This ensemble
was created in order to play at official ceremonies and parties, but also to research the various musical traditions from
a variety of cultural regions of the country, such as the Mandé, the Wagadu, the Segou region,
the Kaarta and the Sankoré. Mokontafé was in this case the assistant of the director of the
ensemble, Bourama Sacko. From 1963 onwards, the Ensemble National were the international cultural ambassadors of Mali, and they won prices at several important festivals at the time, for instance a Gold Medal at the Dakar Festival des Arts Nègres in 1966, another in Lagos, and at the Festival Panafricain des Arts d'Alger in 1969. Mokontafé performed with the ensemble in Europa, United States and China. As no records were produced in Mali in the 1960s, there are only occasional recordings from neighbouring countries. For instance, in 1965, Mokontafé released a 45rpm single, In the 1970s, Mokontafé recorded four albums for the Sonafric label. Her importance to Malian music and society was more than the four albums she produced, she has been around as history was written in the first decade of Mali's independence, and she sung at important occasions. Her music was played on national radio on important days, and she was respected by all for her voice, her charm and her smile. She retired from music in 1990, although in early 2002, she wrote a song at the occasion of the Football African Cup of Nations, that was held in Mali. Musicians on Les Aigles du Mali: Ali Wagué flute Modibo Kouyaté guitar Solo Diabaté ngoni (4-strings) Bourama Kouyaté balafon * According to Eric S. Charry is his book |
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| Title | Year | Label | Remarks | |
| Mokontafe Sako et son ensemble traditionnel | 1977 | Sonafric SAF 50 059 | LP | |
| Les Aigles du Mali | 1976 | Sonafric SAF 50 033 | LP | |
| Spécial Biennale du Mali | 1976 | Sonafric SAF 50 021 | LP | |
| Farafina Moussow | 1975 | Sonafric SAF 50 012 | LP |
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