Momo Wandel died of a heart attack

Momo Wandel died of a heart attack at the Ignace hospital in Conakry on Sunday 15 June. He was 77 years old.

His sudden death marks an end to his dreams and to ours.
He has left his family, his friends and all the projects that he had planned with such passionate enthusiasm. He always trusted in his astonishing energy, his curiosity, his knowledge and his passion for music that could burst forth at any moment with new ideas for concerts and splendid recordings.

His long life has left us with dazzling memories of his strength, his generosity and his sheer joy. There are many amongst us who have been a part of Momo's life.
May his laughter and his mischievous glance always remain in our memories.

Momo Wandel's final musical journey was to Belgium in March and April 2003 during AFRICALIA. Africalia presents seven monthly programs through which those who take part discover the creative artistic forces of Africa today.

Anye Ben Kafö, meaning let's meet and play together, was a splendid presentation for full houses at the Monnnaie in Brussels, the Concertgebouw in Bruges and the Zuiderpershuis in Antwerp. Great masters of Mandingo tradition together with African and European jazz musicians all came together for wonderful sessions of musical improvisation.

For Momo these were great and shining moments of musical creation and of friendship with colleagues both old and new.

Around him during these concerts were Pierre Vaiana and his band Foofango from Burkina Faso, the renowned djembefola Mamady Keïta and his band Sewa Kan, N'Faly Kouyaté on the kora, the master balafon player Dugu Tigui Diabaté, the singer Kaabi Kandia Kouyaté, Baba Sissoko on tamani, the fulani flute player Ali Wagué, the pianist Fabian Fiorini and Laruent Blondiau on trumpet.

Anye Ben Kafö was followed by a three-week tour as a special guest of the group Foofango. It was a great joy for him to perform afro-jazz with these young musicians who considered him to be the founding father of this style.

Wherever he performed, audiences loved Momo; they loved not only his generosity, his charisma and his unforgettable smile, but also his unique voice, his saxophone playing and his great music.

During all this time he lived in our house with us; he was never tired, curious about everything, always happy and making plans for the future...

Farewell, Momo.

Lou & Claude Flagel

Fonti musicali

contact: fonti.musicali@skynet.be

• article submitted by: WOMEX