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Bara Sambarou
(Mali)
Biography
Bara Sambarou (Ibrahima Sambarou Sarré) is a prominent Peul-griot
from the town of Mopti. Born in 1946, he plays the hoddu, a traditional 4-string wooden lute. He was a disciple of
Hamdoum Birinta Djiga, the first Peul griot to have sung on Malian radio ever, and of Emana Patal,
a hoddu player. During the 1970s, his songs gained in popularity among the Peuls in Mali, and a local producer started
duplicating cassettes that were sought after. One particular song, « Gambari »,
was so popular that it became his trade mark song. Especially in the Mopti region, his songs were frequently played
on the radio. Gambari refers to a white fabric imported from Nigeria, that young peul traders, from the diawando
caste, would bring back from successful business to give to their wives, as a sign of their prosperity. The song
became a hymne for the Diawando.
Although Sambarou's music is virtually unknown outside Mali, Jean Ducassé decided to uncover his music by putting forward a live version of « Gambari », recorded in 1979, that, although there are probably about 30 versions of the song, has that special magic impossible to recreate today. An alternate version and a soul remix of the song is added to form an album, and a DVD volume contains a documentary on Bara Sambarou's life and music.
On the CD Mali : le hoddu Peul | The Fulani Hoddu on the Ocora label, there are 4 songs by Bara Sambarou, along those of fellow hoddu players, such as Toka Abagouro Sarré, Nassourou Sarré and Dinda Hamma Sarré.
Born: 1946, in Konsa (near Mopti), as Ibrahima Sambarou Sarré
Style: peul (fulani) praise music, hoddu
Although Sambarou's music is virtually unknown outside Mali, Jean Ducassé decided to uncover his music by putting forward a live version of « Gambari », recorded in 1979, that, although there are probably about 30 versions of the song, has that special magic impossible to recreate today. An alternate version and a soul remix of the song is added to form an album, and a DVD volume contains a documentary on Bara Sambarou's life and music.
On the CD Mali : le hoddu Peul | The Fulani Hoddu on the Ocora label, there are 4 songs by Bara Sambarou, along those of fellow hoddu players, such as Toka Abagouro Sarré, Nassourou Sarré and Dinda Hamma Sarré.
Born: 1946, in Konsa (near Mopti), as Ibrahima Sambarou Sarré
Style: peul (fulani) praise music, hoddu
Bara Sambarou
Discography
| Title | Year | Label | Remarks |
| Gambari 79 | 2008 | Totolo TOTOLO005 | CD & DVD |
Sources
CD liner notes
CD liner notes
Page added January 2009