Mamani Keïta - Kanou (2014)

Mamani Keita is one of the great voices of Mali, a singer who knows how to bind her audience to her, all the better to seduce and then electrify them. She is also supremely charismatic, with a generous spirit that embraces the world and its music. All of which makes her an independent and socially engaged artist. On Kanou, meaning 'to love' in her native Bambara, Keita's blazing vocals intertwine perfectly with the arabesques woven by the n'goni of virtuoso Moriba Koita and the guitar of Djeli Moussa Kouyate of Bamako Rail Band fame. Overflowing with a benevolent strength, this collection of searingly passionate songs is her first solo album, marking a decisive turning point in her career.