Fez - Often called the diva of Mali, singer Oumou Sangaré speaking in French talked about the artist’s role in redefining the perception of Africa.
“In Africa we have a tendency to forget the past. We have to remember where we came from. Even the artists. We need to approach our origins through the music. Africa is rich. People think it’s poor, but it’s not so. [The wealth of Africa] is in your head and in your culture, c’est la richesse. On est très riche dans la tête and dans le corps. And when you are rich you can succeed; you can progress and advance things.”
In her 30-year singing career, Sangaré participates in many festivals throughout the world, but she thinks that the Fes World Sacred Music Festival has a special spirit with its diverse artists. “It does a lot for the music and culture of Africa. All black Africa is here in this festival.” Sangaré said she feels at home in Morocco. Noting her recent appearance in the coastal city of Essaouira, Morocco, at the Gnawa festival, she said, “Essaouira is a city of Gnawa whose origins are with us in Mali.”
Her musical inspiration comes from the African woman. “The spirit of woman,” as she put it. She recounted that she was touched by her own hard upbringing filled with suffering, and that has inspired her in her life. “The plight of women drives what I do,” she says. I struggle for the rights of women.”
Sangaré says that the mentality in Africa has changed in the last 20 years, so that it is no longer frowned upon for a woman to work or do something with her life. “African women have enough intelligence to work with and not just rely on our men to support us.”
She has denounced arranged marriage. “My point is to allow the woman to make her choice and her life is her responsibility. Let the girls make their choice. Don’t force them into something that may not work and leaves them abandoned.”
Sitting in her sparkling bejeweled necklace and bracelets, she was asked whether singing for money is legitimate. Sangaré said, “If you only work only for money you lose your soul. I started singing for money to help my family. To change things. To give a message of God. People should use this to do good.”
She continued, “I’ve sung all my life, I’m saying ‘wake up women, let’s get to work.’ I reflected upon the women who came and said to me, ‘you have been lucky but we don’t have money. What can we do?’” She says she bought 10 hectares on the side of a river and started a farm to help the women learn a way to establish their own living. “I invited the women to come and work together. Now I train them in agriculture and provide mentorship.”
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