Blazing a New Path for Mali’s Musical Landscape

Oumar Konate – Maya Maya (Clermont Music, 2016)

Following up on his 2014 release of Addoh, Malian guitarist and vocalist Oumar Konate has hit the musical streets this time with Maya Maya, out on the Clermont Music label.

Fashioning his own sound out of a mix of Mali’s rich musical tradition with western rock music, Mr. Konate erases the boundaries by way of fusing call-and-response vocals with fiery rock guitar lines to blaze a new path for Mali’s musical landscape.

Taking on electric and acoustic guitars and lead vocals Mr. Konate has teamed up with percussionist and drummer Makan Camara, bassist and backing vocalist Cheick Siriman Sissoko, slide and pedal steel guitarist Keven Maul and pianist Professor Louie to give voice to Mali’s up-and-coming musicians and his country’s precarious future in the face of growing violence, government corruption and an extremist fundamentalist movement.

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