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Amy Koita
(Mali)
Biography
Amy Koita, or Ami Koita, is probably the most famous female mandingo singer of Mali. Gifted with a
volatile voice, and born into the musical tradition of praise singing, Ami won the hearts of the Malian audience.
In order to conquer international music markets, she tried at several occasions to mix modern and traditional
elements in her music, with varying success. But she always came back with another album, closer to her musical roots.
She is born in a pure Mandé family in Djoliba, bordering on the Niger river, South of Bamako, the very heart of mandingo culture. Her father, Bengaly Fodé Koïta died when she was three years old, but he is known for his knowledge of Malian kings, battles and general history. After her father's death, her mother and the little Amy went to Bamako, Mali's capital. The link with Djoliba wasn't broken, as Amy continued to be influenced and trained by her grand mother and by Wa Kamissoko, the brother of Amy's mother, and also a traditionalist griot who worked with historian Youssouf Tata Cissé. In 1966, she was successful at a song contest as a recruit for the Ensemble instrumental national du Mali, which she joined at the age of 17. She recorded and toured with the ensemble, and participated in the Festival des Arts Nègres (FESTAC77) in Lagos, Nigeria, together with Guinean Sory Kandia Kouyaté.
After her FESTAC77 participation, she decided to start a solo career and a first solo album was released. Throughout the 1980s, 1990s and the first decade of the 2000s, many albums followed.
She is born in a pure Mandé family in Djoliba, bordering on the Niger river, South of Bamako, the very heart of mandingo culture. Her father, Bengaly Fodé Koïta died when she was three years old, but he is known for his knowledge of Malian kings, battles and general history. After her father's death, her mother and the little Amy went to Bamako, Mali's capital. The link with Djoliba wasn't broken, as Amy continued to be influenced and trained by her grand mother and by Wa Kamissoko, the brother of Amy's mother, and also a traditionalist griot who worked with historian Youssouf Tata Cissé. In 1966, she was successful at a song contest as a recruit for the Ensemble instrumental national du Mali, which she joined at the age of 17. She recorded and toured with the ensemble, and participated in the Festival des Arts Nègres (FESTAC77) in Lagos, Nigeria, together with Guinean Sory Kandia Kouyaté.
After her FESTAC77 participation, she decided to start a solo career and a first solo album was released. Throughout the 1980s, 1990s and the first decade of the 2000s, many albums followed.
Amy Koïta: Album cover 'Mamaya'
• Musicians on the album « Debe/Amy Nana »:
Kélétigui Diabaté balafon;
Bouba Sacko guitar;
Moriba Koïta ngoni;
Born: 1952, in Djoliba
Style: malinke/mandingo music
Discography
Kélétigui Diabaté balafon;
Bouba Sacko guitar;
Moriba Koïta ngoni;
Born: 1952, in Djoliba
Style: malinke/mandingo music
Discography
| Title | Year | Label | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Classics Titles | 2006 | Cantos | Compilation |
| Sanou Lolo | 2004 | Seydoni Mali | Cassette (digital release 2013) |
| Best of Amy Koïta | 2004 | Sazima/Sonima SMCD 1408 | Compilation |
| Africawé | 2003 | Mali K7 S.A. | |
| Pour collectionneur : Vol. 3 | [nd] | No label | Album Tara / Néné Daou (1978) |
| Pour collectionneur : Vol. 2 | [nd] | No label | Album Debe (1985) |
| Pour collectionneur : Vol. 1 | [nd] | No label | Album Hine Mansa / Bomboli Niare (1976) |
| Sarama | 1999 | Production Samir Naman / Mali K7 S.A. | Cassette (digital release 2013) |
| Djiguy | 1998 | Déclic | |
| Carthage | 1995 | Sonodisc CD 6840 | Compiled from two cassettes Le Défi and L'Expérience |
| L'Expérience | 1994 | Mansa | Cassette |
| Le défi | 1994 | Mansa | Cassette |
| Songs of Praise | 1993 | Stern's STCD 1039 | Compiled from two cassettes 'Hommage' and 'Nakan' |
| Hommage à Sambayal Gaye "Concorde" | 1992 | AK 001 | Cassette |
| Mamaya | 1989 | Syllart 38120-2 | |
| Mali Stars: Nakan | 1988 | Syllart 38115-2 | |
| La sublime Amy Koita: Djamba Kono | 1991 | Camara Production CK7 083 | |
| Mory Djo | 1989 | Oubien OU 003 | Cassette |
| Tata Sira | 1986 | Bolibana 42079-2 | |
| Debe/Amy Nana | 1985 | Esperance ESP 7517 | |
| Néné Daou | 1978 | LP | |
| Impératrice de la Chanson Malienne | 1976 | Disco Club de la Bagoue FT 003 | LP |
Sources
https://www.afrisson.com/amy-koita-655/
https://www.afrisson.com/amy-koita-655/
Page added October 1998