Oumou Sangaré

Oumou Sangaré (born February 25, 1968, Bamako, Mali) is a Malian Wassoulou musician, known as "The Songbird of Wassoulou." Born to Fulani singers, she overcame poverty, singing in the streets to support her family after her father’s abandonment. At 16, she toured with Djoliba Percussions, and her 1990 debut Moussoulou became a West African hit. Her music, rooted in Wassoulou traditions, tackles women’s rights, polygamy, and social issues, with albums like Ko Sira (1993), Seya (2009), and Mogoya (2017).

A Grammy winner and UNESCO Prize recipient, she’s also a businesswoman, owning Hôtel Résidence Wassoulou and other ventures. Her music, available on Spotify and Apple Music, continues to inspire globally.