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Flashmag July 2019 www.flashmag.net
because I went through the theater where nature is part of the elements of art.
Music, however you do not really let it go, because you will be seen contributing to projects of world-famous artists such as Dee Dee Bridgewater Cheick Tidiane Seck, Oumou Sangaré, AfroCubism, Poly-Rythmo Orchestra of Cotonou, or Herbie Hancock with Imagine project which will be awarded a Grammy. How these experiences influenced you?
It's been a lot of training, and we're actually, recording the second album; and you'll see that all these encounters have influenced me. All these experiences help me to better express traditional music. I come from a "pentatonic" region (music with 5 notes range very usual, because the limitation of notes allows its application in several genres) I keep the root of Wassoulou, a type of song and rhythm that comes from my Region of origin, which I apply to several other musical contexts. So, it's a sharing, a musical exchange with the other genres that allows mutual enrichment. Unconsciously we are the guardians of our culture. And all these great artists have a lot of sensitivity, and we can easily understand each other. Because they understand that this young woman is part of the family. We call her because we know she’s with us in the same court. You know we recognize ourselves, it is not always about technique, but the concordance in the vibration of styles.
In 2011, you release your first opus Fatou how was the preparation of this album which really puts you on the map of musicians of the world
It was done very naturally, I learned to play the guitar on that album. A naïve, fragile album, but also a very complicated music. Connoisseurs can understand the subtlety. I went calmly in this album, I said to myself I have all the time to show what I am capable to do. It was an introductory statement of my person, a presentation in fact. Full of simplicity and love.
What are your relationships now with those who were opposed before to your artistic adventure?
Of course, things have evolved positively, after they understood. In fact, in my family when I was a child, they were all afraid of my energy because they had difficulty controlling it. I had a certain freedom to express myself when I had to dance or sing. In fact, I was misunderstood at first because I was a bit special. That is why in my work I advocate the tolerance of difference. When I ran away and they saw my works, it helped to make them understand that it was my way. And that I was on earth to carry a message. They were very happy when I decided to go back to Mali in 2012. They realized that I was on a mission and that it was stronger than me, and stronger than them. I have to perpetuate the history of Malian culture that elder notable’s artists have Started. Ali Farka Touré, Salif Keita, Oumou Sangaré, Rokia Traoré, and many others …
Between 2002 and 2008 you do exclusively theater, with the Royal de Luxe theater company; Of Jean-Luc Courcoult what represents this moment for you?
It was very formative for me. A great school. I believe a lot in destiny; I think God has done everything to put me on a certain trajectory. The theater showed me how much it’s important to respect your work. I learned rigor in the process of artistic creation. I realized how important it was to get the job done, if you wanted to have positive results. I would repeat from morning till night. we would often play in the open air, even when it was raining and the audience went away, we always finished our plays. I came from Africa I was playing in the cold; it was not easy but I persevered, I did not let go. It was schooled, in the rough I did not go to school to be an actress, I learned everything on the job, singing, playing instruments. I learned it all on the job. And I had the chance to meet talented directors like Sotigui Kouyaté or Jean-Luc Courcoult. Today many people ask me how I do to keep it up. They do not understand, because they didn’t go through the path I have traveled. I can play in Rio today and be the next day in Paris and keep the smile for my audience,