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Mamar Kassey
(Niger)
Biography
The band Mamar Kassey was formed by
Yacouba Moumouni in 1995. Yacouba's life as an artist starts when he left his village of pastoralists
for Niamey after his father's death and a conflict with his elder brother. Aged 10, he walked about 200 km to Niger's capital.
In 1979, he met the singer Absatou Danté, sister of the director of the
Ballet National du Niger, Alhassane Danté. She taught him the musical traditions of
his country. He learnt the Seyse, the flute of the Peul (Fulani), and after seven years
of training, he was adopted in Absatou Danté's band, and later in the Ballet national.
In 1990, he became one of the singers of Orchestre Takeda, the house orchestra of the newly opened musical academy Centre de formation et de promotion musicale in Niamey. Here, he teamed up with Abdoulaye Alassane, guitarist, and band leader of Orchestre Takeda. Alassane had created Super Kassey back in 1983, a band which name was changed into l'International de la Capitale. This band, which was the house band of the night club Gaskama, broke up in 1988.
At the creation of Mamar Kassey towards the end of 1995, Yacouba called upon the best musicians of country, some of them he met at the CFPM, among them Abdoulaye Alassane.
The music of Mamar Kassey has a distinct West African flavour, comparable to the music of Mali, but uses instruments and musical styles from Niger. The lyrics are in Songhai or Peul.
After a successful performance at the Atypical Nights of Langon Festival in 1998, Mamar Kassey soon produced a first international release called « Denké-Denké », followed two years later by « Alatoumi ». Both albums received raving comments by the press. Yet, a long period of silence followed, and it wasn't until 2013 that a new album was released.
In 1990, he became one of the singers of Orchestre Takeda, the house orchestra of the newly opened musical academy Centre de formation et de promotion musicale in Niamey. Here, he teamed up with Abdoulaye Alassane, guitarist, and band leader of Orchestre Takeda. Alassane had created Super Kassey back in 1983, a band which name was changed into l'International de la Capitale. This band, which was the house band of the night club Gaskama, broke up in 1988.
At the creation of Mamar Kassey towards the end of 1995, Yacouba called upon the best musicians of country, some of them he met at the CFPM, among them Abdoulaye Alassane.
The music of Mamar Kassey has a distinct West African flavour, comparable to the music of Mali, but uses instruments and musical styles from Niger. The lyrics are in Songhai or Peul.
After a successful performance at the Atypical Nights of Langon Festival in 1998, Mamar Kassey soon produced a first international release called « Denké-Denké », followed two years later by « Alatoumi ». Both albums received raving comments by the press. Yet, a long period of silence followed, and it wasn't until 2013 that a new album was released.
Mamar Kassey
• Band members of Mamar Kassey:
Yacouba Moumouni vocals, flute, composer of music and lyrics
Abdoulaye Alassane, dit "Abdallah" guitar, band leader and arranger
Adamou Daouda, dit "Nagouli" percussion (douma, and kalangou talking drum)
Boubacar Souleyman Maïga, dit "Bari" calabash
Harouna Abdou bass
Housseïni Namata Chibkabou komsa (two-stringed lute), molo (three-stringed lute)
Formed: 1995, by Yacouba Moumouni in Niamey
Style: Sahel afro-pop / songhaï music
Discography
Yacouba Moumouni vocals, flute, composer of music and lyrics
Abdoulaye Alassane, dit "Abdallah" guitar, band leader and arranger
Adamou Daouda, dit "Nagouli" percussion (douma, and kalangou talking drum)
Boubacar Souleyman Maïga, dit "Bari" calabash
Harouna Abdou bass
Housseïni Namata Chibkabou komsa (two-stringed lute), molo (three-stringed lute)
Formed: 1995, by Yacouba Moumouni in Niamey
Style: Sahel afro-pop / songhaï music
Discography
| Title | Year | Label | Remarks |
| Taboussizé - Niger | 2013 | Innacor/L'Autre Distribution | CD |
| Alatoumi | 2001 | Daquí | Also released by World Village 470003 |
| Denké-Denké | 1999 | Daquí 332 006 |
Sources
CD liner notes Denké-Denké
CD liner notes Denké-Denké
Page added August 2000