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Oumou Sangare  

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Oumou Sangare tour dates and tickets 2024-2025 near you

Want to see Oumou Sangare in concert? Find information on all of Oumou Sangare’s upcoming concerts, tour dates and ticket information for 2024-2025.

Oumou Sangare is not due to play near your location currently - but they are scheduled to play 3 concerts across 2 countries in 2024-2025. View all concerts.

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Oumou Sangaré Sets North American Tour Dates

The new tour will kick off on October 23.

Malian diva Oumou Sangaré is set for a run of upcoming shows in select North American cities in support of her critically acclaimed new album Timbuktu. The dates will take her to both coasts, hitting Vancouver, Berkeley, Princeton and New York City. See below for a list of dates.

Timbuktu is out now to high critical acclaim. The album includes single "Wassulu Don," a joyous expression of hometown pride, which was recently playlisted by BBC 6Music and features a beautiful video directed by Justyna Obasi and filmed in Ghana.

Sangaré has been busy touring throughout the year in support of the album, including a headline show at London's Queen Elizabeth Hall in June as part of Grace Jones' Meltdown Festival, and festivals including Way Out West (Sweden), Blue Dot (U.K.) and Le Guess Who (Netherlands).

Recorded in multiple locations (U.S., Mali and France) and her first new material since 2017's critically acclaimed Mogoya, Timbuktu is a stunning collection of songs-fusing her distinctive Malian sound and voice with elements of blues, folk and rock-resulting in a timeless body of work, free from borders and genres.

Sangaré is renowned worldwide for her vibrant and powerful music, which often features revolutionary messages about women's rights, tradition and poverty. Since the release of her debut album Moussoulou in 1989 there's been no respite for the Malian singer.

Notable waymarks on her rich and fruitful journey include some of the most definitive recordings in the history of contemporary African music: Ko Sira in 1993, Worotan in 1996 and Seya in 2009, the latter nominated for a Grammy Award.

Counting among her many notable fans Alicia Keys, Aya Nakamura and Beyoncé (who sampled the classic "Diaraby Nene" for her 2019 Lion King release), Sangaré has long since broken through barriers separating continents and musical styles.

Timbuktu is the latest act in this unparalleled musical epic, consecrating an artist who rose from the poor neighbourhoods of Bamako to become a world-renowned musician and a vocal activist. A bold sonic approach, fusing the dynamism of traditional Wassoulou rhythms with the language of contemporary music, Timbuktu looks set to become the most ambitious and accomplished work in an already remarkable discography.

Watch the new music video here:

North American Tour Dates

October 23-Vancouver, BC-Chan Centre October 25-Berkeley, CA-Freight & Salvage October 26-Berkeley, CA-Freight & Salvage October 28-Princeton, NJ-McCarter Theater October 29-New York, NY-Apollo Theater

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After more years than we care to count, Oumou Sangaré, the queen of Wassoulou music, returned to American stages this October. Anyone lucky enough to have caught one of these rare shows will tell you: the songbird of the south is sounding better than ever. Fronting a superb, diverse international band, speaking English surprisingly well, and showcasing songs from her 2022 album, Timbuktu , along with new arrangements of a few classics, Sangaré remains a force of nature onstage. We caught her long-delayed debut at the Apollo Theater on Oct. 29, and a free outdoor show in Providence, Rhode Island the next day, the final two shows of the tour. In both cases. Sangaré and her band delivered joy and ecstasy, delighting fans and wowing newcomers.

The Apollo show, presented by the World Music Institute, was particularly explosive, clearly a date she has been anticipating since it was postponed back in April of 2020. This show opened with a rousing set from percussionist Will Calhoun and the Mali Project. Calhoun has traveled to Mali and other African locales for years, and has performed with Sangaré in the past. The formation he staged this time included Cameroonian bassist/composer Francis Mbape, and Malian kora maestro Yacouba Sissoko along with other NYC-based luminaries of African music. The musicians traded solos and lead vocal in the manner of a collaborative jam session, and all shined. But the true fireworks came from the percussion section. Calhoun is a more than a monster drummer. His improvisations are playful, complex but always musical, utterly engaging.

Sangaré’s set began deep and slow but rapidly accelerated into muscular rocking versions of key songs from Timbuktu . Near the beginning, she took time to tell the story of her 2020 vigil in New York, waiting for a return to normality that was not in the cards. In careful, clear, if imperfect English she described her wait. “One week, two weeks, three weeks… Three months ! No, I have to do something.” What she did was to summon her longtime kamele ngoni (pentatonic gourd harp) man, Mamadou Sidibe, from California to her newly acquired house in Baltimore to set about creating the album that became Timbuktu . [For more on all that, check out our interview with Sangaré earlier this year .]

At the Apollo, Sidibe joined the band’s nimble kamele ngoni player Abou Diarra for the early part of the set and the camaraderie was palpable. This band includes musicians from Ivory Coast, Central African Republic, Burkina Faso, Mali and France. Not only are they spectacular soloists, each given time to shine by their generous queen, but they cohere as a high precision team, rifling through tricky stop-time riffs with ease, scaling the dynamic range from whispers to roars, nailing Wassoulou music’s funky grooves with smiles to spare. Special mention to Abidjan-based guitarist Julien Pestre. The man can tear up the fretboard with rock ’n' roll bravado, just as Sangaré’s long-ago guitarist Baba Salah once did, and he has clearly spent years internalizing African guitar idioms from soukous to Afrobeat, to Bambara blues. Another nice touch was a rubber-limbed male dancer Sekou Keita , based in Switzerland, who graced the stage at regular intervals. He opened the show tied up in ropes that he struggled ostentatiously to free himself from throughout the opening number.

Also exceptional were the band’s female vocalists Emma Lamadji of Central African Republic, and Kandy Guira of Burkina Faso. We got none of the breathy coos one sometimes hears from Malian backing singers; these ladies were singing , full throated and punching. Still, for all the gusto this powerful band kicks up, Sangaré’s voice easily dominates the sound scape. Her voice is iconic by now, beloved for its range for heart-breaking vulnerability—as in a fresh arrangement of her 1989 celebration of romantic love “Diaraby Nene”—to robust protest—as in the new “Kele Magni,” an anti-war song—to exuberant celebration, notably on the feisty crowd-pleaser “Yalla,” which concluded her set in both concerts. At the Apollo, Calhoun took on the drum kit for the encore, grinning ear to ear.

It's fair to say that Sangaré pretty much blew the roof off the Apollo on Saturday night. After the show, there was a champagne toast at the bar, and Sangaré was mobbed by overjoyed fans, including an unexpected one, her longtime friend and admirer Jackson Browne.

The following afternoon, it all happened again at District Park by the Pedestrian Bridge in downtown Providence on an unseasonably warm and perfectly sunny Sunday afternoon. This show was organized by Providence-based Malian percussionist and educator Sidy Maiga, another old friend of Sangaré’s. It turns out this is the fourth time Maiga has brought Sangaré to Providence. Lucky Providence!

Maiga’s band, The Bridge Where We Meet, opened this show with a unique take on Malian folklore that included a brass section and an electric cello. The music was rich and groovy, though the surprise star turned out to be Maiga’s four-year-old son, wielding his tiny djembe and tracking his dad across the stage, out into the lawn and back.

It’s not likely Sangaré got much sleep between these two shows. She went easy on the English this time, likely saving her voice for singing. There was a touch of rasp there in the opening numbers, but as the set progressed, the magic happened once again. Malian ladies in their finery and regular folks out for a beer in the park came together under Sangaré’s irresistible spell, dancing in the grass in the afternoon glow with the Providence skyline visible behind the stage.

Both of these concerts featured a reworking of a great song from Sangaré’s second album, Ko Sira . The new version, “Kamelemba,” from her 2017 album Mogoya , is a standout with a super funky kamele ngoni -driven groove and unforgettable vocal refrains. In the Providence show, the band stretched out on this one, bringing Maiga and his little son on stage for dancing and djembefola (drum play).

As the sun set in Providence, the show and the tour were a wrap. Sangaré cannot return to our shores soon enough. Hopefully her “vacation home” in Baltimore will occasion more shows soon. Meanwhile, here are a few images from the Apollo and Providence.

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Sunday, April 14, 2024  ·  7:00 PM CDT

Oumou Sangaré

4544 N Lincoln Ave · Gary and Laura Maurer Concert Hall · 773.728.6000

Global superstar and Grammy Award-winner from Bamako, Mali, Oumou Sangaré will take the Old Town School on a musical trip to West Africa. Renowned worldwide for her vibrant and powerful music, the Malian “songbird of Wassoulou” infuses her music with traditional African percussion, distinctive vocals, and progressive social criticism, creating a unique sound that has propelled her onto the international stage. Her dynamic performance will feature music that spans traditional Wassoulou music to contemporary sounds coming out of Africa, as well as songs from her recent critically acclaimed album, Timbuktu.

Oumou Sangaré is widely considered to be Africa's most dynamic female voice. Her music is ebullient and thrilling, with powerful and groundbreaking messages about women's rights, tradition and poverty. “Percussive, danceable, and haunting, the singer's visionary mix is the primary reason that her voice has come to carry as much respect as Aretha Franklin's.” - The New Yorker

https://worldcircuit.co.uk/artists/oumou-sangare/

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ConcertFix is thrilled to spotlight the incredible Oumou Sangare, a Grammy award-winning artist from Mali. Known as the 'Songbird of Wassoulou,' Sangare has been a prominent figure in African music since her debut album 'Moussoulou' captured international attention in 1989. Her music, deeply rooted in traditional African rhythms, is celebrated for its powerful commentary on gender inequality and child marriage. Sangare's soulful voice, combined with her compelling lyrics, has made her a global ambassador for Malian music. In addition to her music career, she is a successful entrepreneur and an advocate for women's rights in Africa. Oumou Sangare's performances are a captivating blend of musical excellence and cultural richness. Keep an eye on ConcertFix for updates on Oumou Sangare's concert schedules, ticket information, and more. Experience the magic of African rhythms and the power of music with the phenomenal Oumou Sangare.

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Apr 24, 2024   |  Doors 7:00 pm       ← PAST EVENT

Oumou Sangaré

Tickets: $55

Sounds by DJ Henri

Grammy Award-winning Malian singer Oumou Sangaré takes the S.O.B.’s stage on Wednesday, April 24th. Grab a bite to eat and enjoy a night of authentic Wassoulou music! Table service is available. 

Known as “The Songbird of Wassoulou,” the Malian artist and feminist icon has been making waves in African music since she began releasing music in the 1980s. Throughout her illustrious career, Sangaré has performed at the Sydney Opera House, London’s Queen Elizabeth Hall, and Tokyo’s Nippon Budokan. Included in her global fanbase is Alicia Keys, Herbie Hancock, Aya Nakamura, and Beyonce (many of which she has collaborated or performed with).

Come see the global icon on April 24th! 

dj.henri has long specialized in the music of Mali, Guinea, and the Saharan Maghreb, opening for Vieux Farka Toure, Salif Keita, Fatoumata Diawara, Mdou Moctar, Tinariwen, Bombino, Sona Jobarteh, Rokia Traore, and Habib Koite.

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OUMOU SANGARÉ

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Among friends, as a couple, or with family and even with children: enjoy up to 25% discount* for Oumou Sangaré’s concert!

– 15% discount for the purchase of 2 tickets: $102 (taxes and fees included) instead of $120 – 20% discount for the purchase of 3 tickets: $144 (taxes and fees included) instead of $180 – 25% discount for the purchase of 4 tickets: $180 (taxes and fees included) instead of $240

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THE GREAT COME BACK OF OUMOU SANGARÉ IN MONTRÉAL !

“The songbird of Wassoulou” is back! The last time Oumou Sangaré was in Montreal was almost thirteen years ago, for the 25th anniversary of Festival International Nuit d’Afrique, where she enticed festivalgoers with her captivating performance on main outdoor stage. This sublime artist, who has inspired the likes of Beyoncé,  Alicia Keys and Aya Nakamura, will be appearing at MTelus to celebrate her ninth album in 30 years, the exquisite Timbuktu , which features songs that “oscillate between anger and celebration” (Le Devoir, 2022). Fiercely proud of her cultural heritage, this brilliant performer is also a staunch feminist and ardent advocate of peace. Clear, free and powerful, her voice harmonizes as elegantly with the delicate notes of the kamale ngoni as the bold pop-rock-blues arrangements.

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Oumou Sangaré: Timbuktu review – sweet and tender sorrows

(Oumsang/World Circuit) This subtle, highly accessible album finds the Malian superstar lamenting the political turbulence of her homeland from afar

O ne of the most compelling aspects of Malian superstar Oumou Sangaré ’s music has been the interplay of her hard-hitting subjects – forced marriage , war – and her sinuous, easygoing tunes. Her authoritative voice is often offset by an all-female chorus, supplying the solidarity her songs invoke. But Sangaré’s range encompasses tenderness and suffering too, rarely more so than on this hugely accessible record that reaches across borders in subtle but inveigling ways. West Africa birthed the lope of the blues – see Sarama , a song discouraging jealousy – but there are resonances here, too, of many different folk-fingerpicking techniques, and lush effects applied to the guitars, koras and kamele ngoni.

Timbuktu , Sangaré’s ninth outing, is named after the legendary city, one sacked by Islamist insurgents a decade ago, and stands in for the political problems ongoing across west Africa. And although this album was written at her new house in Baltimore, when Sangaré got stuck there during lockdown, many of these tracks look to her home region of Wassoulou, whose sung heritage and stringed instruments she has turned into an international world music phenomenon. This activist and businesswoman flexes hard for her community’s progress on Wassulu Don, but on Demissimw, a lonesome ballad about children affected by war, her sorrow is front and centre.

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Grammy-winning Malian singer Oumou Sangaré returns with “Tumbuktu,” out 4/29 on World Circuit; debuts new track “Sarama”

February 8, 2021—Grammy Award-winning global superstar Oumou Sangaré makes her return to the World Circuit label for the release her new album Timbuktu , due April 29 . Recorded in multiple locations in the U.S., Mali and France, Timbuktu is her first new material since 2017’s critically acclaimed Mogoya . The new record fuses Sangaré’s distinctive Malian sound and voice with elements of blues, folk and rock resulting in a timeless body of work, free from borders and genres. In celebration of the forthcoming release, Sangaré is debuting the song “ Sarama ” alongside a new video; watch/share the video and preorder Timbuktu HERE .

In March 2020, shortly after the International Wassoulou Festival (FIWA), an event Sangaré launched in 2016 to promote her birth region in southern Mali, she went to the United States. She’d only planned to stay a few weeks but then lockdown came, first in New York, then in Baltimore, a place where she quickly felt at home. “Something in that city drew me in straightaway,” notes Sangaré. “I felt so good there that I bought a house!” Once settled into her new abode, she spent her days writing songs with the help of an old friend, Mamadou Sidibé, who has been Oumou Sangare’s kamele n’goni (traditional lute) player since the very beginning.

This period of enforced seclusion gave birth to 10 of the 11 songs on Timbuktu . The album weaves intimate sonic connections between traditional West African instruments and those linked to the history of the blues, most notably the kamele n’goni and its distant heirs, the Dobro and slide guitar. “Since 1990, I’ve never had a chance to cut myself off from the world and devote myself exclusively to music,” Sangaré says. “I think you feel it in the music, but also in the lyrics which are fruit of all those moments when I was able to withdraw into myself and meditate.”

Sangare’s lyrics deliver her thoughts on the indecipherable mysteries of existence, the perilous situation that her country is going through right now and the general condition of African womanhood; all proof that despite becoming so powerful, she hasn’t renounced the belief and commitment of her youth. Many feelings and moods nourish this album, from the introspection of “Degui N’Kelena” to the amorous languor of “Kanou,” the compassion of “Demissimw,” the exasperation of “Kêlê Magni” and the pride of “Wassulu Don.” A bold sonic approach, fusing the dynamism of traditional Wassoulou rhythms with the language of contemporary music, Timbuktu looks set to become the most ambitious and accomplished work in an already remarkable discography.

“Music is within me,” Sangaré declares. “Without it, I’m nothing, and nothing can take it away from me! I’ve put my life into this record, my whole life—this life in which I’ve known hunger, the humiliation of poverty and fear, and from which today, I draw glory.”

Timbuktu is the latest act in this unparalleled musical epic, consecrating an artist who rose from the poor neighborhoods of Bamako to become a world-renowned musician and a vocal activist. For her tireless work on social progress and cultural development, she holds the prestigious titles of Goodwill Ambassador for the U.N.’s Food & Agriculture organization, Commander of the National Order of Mali and Chevalier of Culture in France.

Sangaré is renowned worldwide for her vibrant and powerful music, which often features revolutionary messages about women’s rights, tradition and poverty. Since the release of her debut album Moussoulou in 1989 there’s been no respite for the Malian singer. Notable waymarks on her rich and fruitful journey include some of the most definitive recordings in the history of contemporary African music: Ko Sira in 1993, Worotan in 1996 and Seya in 2009, the latter nominated for a Grammy Award. Counting among her many notable fans Alicia Keys, Aya Nakamura and Beyoncé (who sampled the classic “Diaraby Nene” for her 2019 Lion King release), Sangaré has broken through barriers separating continents and musical styles.

OUMOU SANGARÉ ON TOUR: May 15—Paris, FR—La Cigale June 15—London, UK—Royal Festival Hall (Meltdown Festival)

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• Chan Centre Presents

Oumou Sangaré

Event begins at 7pm. doors open 6pm..

"Sangaré's irresistible voice enhances her music's power to disarm critics and make defenders of outmoded traditions think twice." NPR

IMPORTANT NOTICE:

This concert was originally schedued for October 23, 2022 and has now been re-scheduled for April 7, 2024.

If you are a ticketholder for the original October 23 date and would like to attend the new April 7 date, no further action is required. Your ticket will remain valid for the new date.

………………………………………………………………………………..

Hailed as “one of the great queens of Malian music” by Rolling Stone , charismatic Grammy and UNESCO Award-winning vocalist Oumou Sangaré debuted 30 years ago with the bold, empowering album Moussolou (“Women”). Women’s rights remain a key focus of her work, both in song and on the ground in her native Mali, where she campaigns fearlessly against an oppressive patriarchal system. Though often touching on difficult themes—both politically and emotionally—her music remains defiantly uplifting, full of buoyant West African grooves, hypnotic melodicism, and Sangaré’s joyful, soulful voice.

Over her acclaimed career, she’s worked with pioneering Afrobeat drummer Tony Allen, sang on Herbie Hancock’s Imagine project, released eleven solo albums, and been cited as an inspiration by the likes of Alicia Keys, Aya Nakamura, and Beyoncé.

When the global pandemic hit in early 2020, Sangaré was forced to remain in the US far longer than the short trip she had originally planned. But this unexpected period of seclusion inspired Timbuktu, the most deeply poetic and sonically ambitious statement of Sangaré’s career. “A euphoric piece of music,” ( The  New York Times ) the album connects instruments like the kamele n’goni to its distant heirs, the Dobro and slide guitar, interweaving the diasporic traditions of blues and rock with the sounds of West Africa.

……………………………………………………………………….

Programmed by Jarrett Martineau, Chan Centre Curator-in-Residence

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Oumou Sangaré

Oumou Sangaré is widely considered to be Africa’s most dynamic female voice. Her music is ebullient and thrilling, with powerful and groundbreaking messages about women’s rights, tradition and poverty  

Oumou Sangaré was born in Bamako, Mali, in 1969. When she was two years old, her father took a second wife and emigrated to Côte d’Ivoire leaving Oumou’s mother, pregnant at the time, with three small children. Her mother was a singer at wedding and baptism celebrations. Oumou joined her, fired by her passion for the music and her desire to help her mother out by earning a little extra cash. By the age of thirteen Oumou had become the family breadwinner.

Oumou’s mother came from Wassoulou, the remote forest region in the south of Mali with a rich musical culture with a pentatonic flavour. The Wassoulou hunters’ music, played on the donsongoni is believed to have magic powers. It was updated into the kamelengoni (youth’s harp) and Oumou’s vision was to bring the power and charm of this music into her own songs. In Bamako, with the help of arranger Ahmadou Ba Guindo, leader of the legendary National Badema dance band, she played with musicians including kamelengoni player ‘Benego’ Brehima Diakite who has remained Oumou’s main musical collaborator to this day.

In 1989, aged 21, she recorded her first album Moussoulou (Women) with arrangements by Ahmadou Ba Guindo, and it took West Africa by storm.The messages were powerful – encouraging women to be themselves and warning against the wrongs of polygamy and forced marriage. The hit song ‘Diaraby Nene’ (The Thrill of Love) was about the taboo subject of women enjoying passion. It was also remarkable for being a slightly modernised version of the traditional rural music of the enigmatic Wassoulou hunters, delivered with an urban funk-driven pulse.

The Moussoulou cassette was given to World Circuit’s Nick Gold by Ali Farka Touré, and Gold witnessed its success during a trip to Bamako in 1991. “You couldn’t escape that music. And you didn’t want to. It was everywhere. I spent that week in Bamako hearing Oumou wherever I went.” 

World Circuit released Moussoulou internationally in 1991 and since then have  released four albums from Oumou. On Ko Sira (Modern Marriage), 1993, ‘Saa Magni’ pays tribute to Ahmadou Ba Guindo, arranger and co-producer of Moussoulou , who died in a car accident in 1991. On Worotan (10 Kola Nuts – the price given by a groom’s parents in exchange for a bride), 1996, Oumou continued to sing about the issues close to her heart. After becoming a mother herself, she also focused on children in difficult circumstances.

Oumou fights fiercely against female circumcision (FGM), which is still prevalent in Mali. “I think the country has made progress regarding female circumcision [although there’s still no law in place]. And I opened the way, to a certain extent. The women of Mali and other African countries still continue the fight.”

In 2003 World Circuit released Oumou , a 2CD retrospective of her career to date. The album features 12 tracks from her first three World Circuit albums, plus 8 tracks previously unreleased on CD. 

Of Seya (Joy), 2009, she says “when I sing it’s joyful but amongst that joy I always take the opportunity to slip in messages that educate my nation.” She encourages family unity, sings against forced marriage and praises Mali’s textile makers. The song ‘Donso’ is both a tribute to Alatta Brouleye, the Wassoulou musician who in the 1960s created the kamelengoni out of the donsongoni hunters’ harp (which ‘Benego’ Brehima Diakite plays on the track) and to her father, Bari Sangaré. with whom she was reconciled before his death.

After an eight year break from recording, Oumou returned with a more modernised sound on Mogoya (on the No Format label) in 2017. This was followed by extensive touring around the world. Acoustic , a stripped-down version of Mogoya was released in 2020, with no amplification, retakes or overdubs. It adds two important songs from her earlier career – ‘Saa Magni’, her tribute to Amadou Ba Guindo, and ‘Diaraby Nene’ her first big hit.

Oumou Sangare

Oumou Sangaré is an internationally renowned and award-winning singer, composer, business pioneer, and activist who champions women's rights in her more...

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Oumou Sangaré Concert Setlists & Tour Dates

Oumou sangaré at the sheldon, st. louis, mo, usa.

• Wassulu Don
• Degui N’Kelena
• Diaraby Nene
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Oumou Sangaré at Englert Theatre, Iowa City, IA, USA

Oumou sangaré at freight & salvage, berkeley, ca, usa, oumou sangaré at sesc jazz 2023.

• Wassoulou Don
• Gniani Sara

Oumou Sangaré at Festival du Bout du Monde 2023

Oumou sangaré at veranos de la villa 2023, oumou sangaré at bric celebrate brooklyn festival 2023, oumou sangaré at best kept secret 2023.

Oumou Sangaré

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Most played songs

• Yala ( 11 )
• Djoukourou ( 10 )
• Kamelemba ( 9 )
• Diaraby Nene ( 8 )
• Kounadya ( 7 )

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103 people have seen Oumou Sangaré live.

lbg83 ligia_araujo fffelipe rafael luismbn jbrilliant wkreth betweentheether simonmeyho l5isa mezzanine82 jaydtd Grobbel Ysildur coenendave Zamal wouterkaas Chickamauga wundertoo Migahawk Dcone7 1maniak Jgazphoto CapitanBen lupo23 wingper Pearljamgarden s000zy nhlamont jamasheo kewlkela ABealey manunam shaker95 nicomuc YodaMaldoror MetalMonkey AV756sism MarkmeteenK mrdegsy olivierteerling franciswalter O-G-W jsonneve JRJM podrozemuzyczne aseedi LiptonOrient peterpaul1970 Tarte0Nuages

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