Songs
Compossed by Mama Sissoko
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- artist:Mama Sissoko
- featured artist:Mama Sissoko
- release year:2026
- style(s):Bambera, Manding
- country:Mali
- formats:Audio File / Digital, CD (Compact Disc)
- record posted by:One World
- label:One World
- publisher:One World
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MAMA SISSOKO was born in 1949 in Nioro du Sahel, 450 km north of Bamako. The Malian guitar virtuoso, Mama Sissoko, was introduced to music by his uncle Djeli Baba Sissoko. His music history count legendary bands like Orchestra A de Bamako, Orchestre National de Bamako and Super Biton de Ségou as lead singer and guitarist. Awarded the Ebony Guitar Prize in 1970 in Mali, and Mérite National in France in 2023, Sissoko has long been on of the internationally sought for guitarists, and his collaborations count Santana, Herbie Hancock as well as opening BB King’s shows.Coming from the Manding culture, Mama’s compositions are largely influenced by blues and jazz, mixed with the traditional rhythms of Bobo, Bambara, Sarakolé, Peul, Songhaï and Mandingue. The 13 track album DIAMOND FINGERS, is produced by his long time proteger, the French photographer Françoise Huguier. Sissoko uses irony in texts critical to the absurdities faced by immigrants in the post colonial realities. On the opening track Commissariat, he questions the French border police why he would need papers, or even a passport from any country, since, in his defence, he is African, and like that, Sissoko defends Africanism. The following songs are meditative, Nkana (brother and sisters unite), Douga (dedicated to the brave people) are meditative songs played in Bambara-blues style, where Silami Djama, (where ever we come from, we all derived from the same), and Massane Cisse (the rich should help the poor), are powerful traditional re-arrangements of ancient Manding songs. Gniasso (tribute to an alcohol sales woman) builds on a strong percussive background, and the following Batou (dedicated to a brave village girl) Sembelou (dedicated to a brave woman), Diamond Fingers and Mari (dedicated to Mama’s brother to prevent him from adventures), are compositions in a typical Mama Sissoko style. Narena (tribute to the mothers), has an intro thriving from the Flamenco universe, and shows the versatile guitarist. On the last two songs, Hommage au Bitton and Diabari, the Afrocuban influences from the 70’es, dominates. Finally this historic album has the chance to see the day of light, 10 years after it’s recording, and 8 years after that Carolina Vallejo and Mama met in Segou in 2018, and became friends.
MUSIC & TEXTS ©by MAMA SISSOKO PRODUCER FRANÇOISE HUGUIER ARRANGEMENTS LAURENT GUENOU SOUND MICHEL ZACHA
LINE UP MAMA SISSOKO VOCALS AND GUITAR, MOHAMED SISSOKO (DANGER) BASS, NOUMOU KEITA CONGAS
TITLES 01. Commissariat 05:58, 02. Nkana 04:43, 03. Douga 06:49, 04. Silami Djama 05:51, 05. Massane Cisse 04:41, 06. Gniasso 05:22, 07. Sembelou 05:11, 08. Diamond Fingers 07:06, 09. Mari 05:25, 10. Batou Mande 03:49, 11. Narena 05:41, 12. Hommage au Bitton 04:59, 13. Diabari 05:09
POST CO PRODUCTION CAROLINA VALLEJO & TOM LEADER
PHOTOS FRANÇOISE HUGUIER GRAPHICS MARTIN PETITJEAN
EXECUTIVE PRODUCTION FRANÇOISE HUGUIER & CAROLINA VALLEJO
©℗ One World Records 2026
DISTRIBUTION Xango Music, Karonte Records, Indigo.de, GiGi Distribution, Inpartmaint Inc., PJ Music & The Orchard