Worotan

Amazon.com
The 1996 recording of this powerful singer from Mali is both her most fully produced recording to date, but in a strange twist also one of her most grounded, essentially "folk" albums as well. The core African band is mostly voices, with kamalngoni (a thick stringed lute), guitars, flute, and percussion in more or less traditional settings for these powerful and persuasive original songs about the social order and the place of women in the culture. The nontraditional elements are sparse and a little startling. Precise, synchronized violin and bass lines puncture the air; R&B horns (a trio led by Pee Wee Ellis) add an unexpected funk; an African guitar line suddenly takes on an electric urgency. These never detract from the rootsy feel, but rather add enhancements at once surprising and obvious. It's all in service of the songs and the voice of Oumou Sangare, whose sliding soulfulness and chilling wail are positively captivating. --Louis Gibson

Worotan,Oumou Sangare,Valley Media, Inc,World Music

Worotan
Average customer rating:

Precious kola nuts indeed!

Five stars, but one hundred are few

to die for

awesome singing and playing

Worotan
Oumou Sangare
Manufacturer: Valley Media, Inc
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Africa | International | Styles | Music
Mali | Africa | International | Styles | Music
General | International | Styles | Music
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ASIN: B0000023VA
Release Date: 1996-11-26

Tracks:

Kun Fe Ko
N'Guatu
Baba
Worotan
Denw
N'Diya Ni
Tiebaw
Sabu
Fantan Ni Mone
Djorolen

Amazon.com

The 1996 recording of this powerful singer from Mali is both her most fully produced recording to date, but in a strange twist also one of her most grounded, essentially "folk" albums as well. The core African band is mostly voices, with kamalngoni (a thick stringed lute), guitars, flute, and percussion in more or less traditional settings for these powerful and persuasive original songs about the social order and the place of women in the culture. The nontraditional elements are sparse and a little startling. Precise, synchronized violin and bass lines puncture the air; R&B horns (a trio led by Pee Wee Ellis) add an unexpected funk; an African guitar line suddenly takes on an electric urgency. These never detract from the rootsy feel, but rather add enhancements at once surprising and obvious. It's all in service of the songs and the voice of Oumou Sangare, whose sliding soulfulness and chilling wail are positively captivating. --Louis Gibson

Customer Reviews:

Precious kola nuts indeed!.......2001-04-01

Oumou Sangare's WOROTAN follows the rich tradition of Malian `griot', story-teller, music. She sings mainly about social issues, addressing traditional values as well as injustices in a very personal way. The griots have been famous throughout West African cultures as the entertainers at festivals and major family occasions, as well as the recorders of family history and the social conscience of a whole ethnic group. The griots are a special `caste' and only people from selected families are allowed to assume the role. Griots move outside the mainstream of the class society. There are any number of famous griots in the Malian music scene.

Some of the songs might seem somewhat monotonous or repetitive and it is worth reading the text of the songs to understand what she is conveying to her audience. Oumou's beautiful voice is not in the forefront in all songs; she is accompanied by a women's chorus that is typical for Malian music but not necessarily the most melodious for the non-accustomed ear. Her voice though, is powerful, varying with the theme she addresses. It is particularly beautiful in the last track, a haunting song about her anguish about the world around her.

A mix of traditional instruments, such as the ngoni, a one-string guitar-like instrument, the Peul flute and, of course, the essential djembe, the Malian drum, are combined with modern instruments resulting in a good variety of accompaniments.

WOROTAN means `10 kola nuts', a traditional bride price. Kola nuts are in general regarded as a precious gift that is offered on many occasions. Likewise, this CD is a treasure that can be offered and enjoyed by many. For newcomers to Malian music it should be listened to a few times so that the increasing familiarity with the music allows an increase in listening pleasure.

Five stars, but one hundred are few.......2000-04-27

I love Oumou Sangare. Every time her Wassoulou music come out from my CD player I begin a travel inside the African universe, across the Mali region. Everything is beautiful: the sharp sound of kamelngoni, the soft support to melodie of violin, the counterpoint of the choir, the delicate strenght of percussions. But nothing can be compared to the Oumou's voice. To listen her is to love her. In that voice there is all the deep charm, the fresh sensuality, the strong soul of african women.

This CD is a miracle, born from the encounter between Oumou and the genius of Nick Gold's World Circuit label (who of you knows Nick only for Buena Vista Social Club?). Is the third Oumou's CD, the same intensity of others with some news: the horns of Pee Wee Ellis, the flute of Yacouba Mamouni (Mamar Kassey), the spanish guitar of Nitin Sawhney (hear the sweet ballad Djorolen). Five stars, but one hundred are few.

to die for.......1999-06-05

My experience of the album followed her concert in Seattle. Within 2 minutes of music I was weeping, my heart changed shape and grew larger. I hardly listen to anything else since then and I will serve her someday. The groove of the band is a drummer's dream, incandescent, and her off-beat phrasing loops long lines over the top. Try singing along!

awesome singing and playing.......1999-02-27

Oumou Sangare is one of the planet's superstars. She is wildly popular in West Africa. Worotan is an excellent and innovative collection of her work. It may not be as raw and immediate as her first collection "Mousoulou," but it is still essential. Recorded with session musicians (James Brown's horn amongst others) and her regular band, Oumou explores new musical ground. While the collection is experimental it does not suffer from synthesizers and get bogged down looking for a crossover hit (ala Baaba Maal's Nomad Soul). THe cd is Oumou. If you haven't fallen in love with Oumou Sangare I urge you to, her work is wonderful!