Tag Archives: women

Malian singer Oumou Sangaré set for Apollo Theater debut on 29 October

This article was written by Gabriel Myers Hansen and originally published by Music In Africa under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercialCC BY-NC licence.


Malian Wassoulou musician Oumou Sangaré will perform for the first time at the Apollo Theater in New York on 29 October.

📷 Oumou Sangaré

The gig, presented by the World Music Institute, forms part of the US-based non-profit Women’s Voices series celebrating the role of female artists in preserving and promoting their respective cultures and traditions.

It also forms part of Apollo’s Next Movement season of performances throughout this Fall.

The Grammy-winning songstress, who is behind eight albums, will perform songs from her expansive catalogue, including her recent critically acclaimed collection, Timbuktu.

“Over the past eight decades the Apollo has amplified Black voices and used its platforms to create an intersection of art and activism,” Apollo’s executive producer, Kamilah Forbes, said.

“Having Oumou perform a range of music from Wassoulou music to contemporary sounds is exactly the kind of artistic conversation that we champion.”

An activist and businesswoman who goes by the nickname ‘The Songbird of Wassoulou’, Oumou Sangaré’s work spans traditional Wassoulou music and contemporary sounds. Thematically, her music centres on social criticism, particularly women’s low social status.

Her illustrious career has drawn comparisons to global performers such as Jamaican great Grace Jones and US legends Nina Simone and Aretha Franklin. She has also been celebrated by pop stars including Beyoncé and Alicia Keys for her powerful voice and unwavering commitment to the betterment of women.

Tickets are on sale now at www.ApolloTheater.org.


Song Of The Day: My Body (Stand Up)

Think what you want of insurance companies, but an insurance company designed for women? That sounds all right. South African based 1st For Women Insurance has produced a new song featuring LIRA, GOODLUCK, Gigi Lamayne and Mariechan.

In the music video women of all ages dance and raise their fists in the air while a choir of young women sing “my body’s nobody’s body but mine, you run your own body let me run mine” under a beat that fits perfectly for such a protest anthem.

“Stand up let the whole world see
That we not gonna sit and take it quietly
Stand up and let the whole world know:
If you raise a hand to one you raise a hand to us all”

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New Interview Series Shines A Light On Women In The Music Business

There is plenty of women in the music business, not only as musicians but also as engineers and producers. Problem is, not many shed a light on these women and so the global view tends to look masculine.

Proof In Music is one of the projects trying to change that narrative with a 12 episode video series documenting the work of these women.

Follow Proof In Music on Facebook and be sure to sign up on their webpage to never miss an episode!

Cover photo of music producer Ainjel Emme from the webpage of Proof In Music.