Baba Sissoko’s Facebook page simply says:
“Born in Bamako (Mali), Baba Sissoko is the undisputed master of tamani (the original talking drum).”
Sissoko’s official website adds:
“Born in Bamako (Mali), Baba Sissoko is the undisputed master of tamani (the original talking drum), that he started to play since he was a child (thanks to the teaching of his grand-father Djeli Baba Sissoko and Djeli Maka Sissoko and Djatourou Sissoko) and from which he is able to extract all the notes simply with a one, natural movement. Baba Sissoko plays also ngoni, kamalengoni, guitar, balaphon, calebasse, Hang and… he sings!”
Sissoko recently released his new solo album Amadran and I’ve really enjoyed it. Minimal accompaniment lets the songs shine. Sissoko says of the album:
«I dedicate this album to my family, all the Sissokos in the world!
There is just one Sissoko family, wherever you are (Mali, Senegal, Gambia or Guinea), if your name is
Sissoko, you are part of the same family, because we are all descendants of Fakoli!
Fakoli was a prince and one of the founders of the Mandinka Empire. He was a man of his word, who was
very involved in the social scene. As a legacy, he passed down to us all of his energy and force. As his
descendants, we all received a piece of him. My family received culture, tradition and music!
My grandparents who were also my best buddies, Djeli Djatourou Sissoko, Djeli Makan Sissoko, Djeli Baba
Sissoko, had all lived with the energy and force of Fakoli, humanly, culturally and musically speaking.
I had the chance to know all of my grandparents and I learned a lot with them at the beginning of my
childhood. I grew up with my father Djeli Madou Sissoko, a great Ngoni player; my mother Djeli Mah
Damba Koroba, traditional singer; and with my uncle Mama Sissoko, a great Ngoni and guitar player, who
completed my training and showed me the way to my mission. My family left me a baggage full of songs
and I can live anywhere in the world with my musical experience.
In our family we start to play music with the Tama, and then we learn how to play the Ngoni. The Tama and
Ngoni are all instruments of the Sissoko family and belonged to us even before the birth of the Mandinka
Empire.
For me, this album is a journey, a souvenir…it’s life! This album comes from my heart and I recorded it
with all the love and respect that I have for my family because I learned from them that the most beautiful
things are the simplest ones.
This music and album are timeless.»
Baba Sissoko
Watch the video for the title track.
