Mali Yaro & Goumbé Star
Abdoulaye Boreima, known as Mali Yaro, was born in 1973 and spent his childhood in Sirfi Koira, Téra, Niger. From his earliest childhood, he loved music, especially the goumbé drum. After moving to the capital, Niamey, he played goumbé with friends, made young and old alike dance with their rhythms. In 1995, he founded the orchestra Goumbé Star, whose other members are currently Papa Rassoulalaye Gueye (rhythm guitar), Omar Tankari (lead guitar), Mahamadoul-Habibou Elh Amadou (bass), Seydou Mounkaila (percussion), Manzo Abdoulaye (drums), and Boubacar Kandou (trumpet).
Mali Yaro and the Goumbé Stars soon became the band to watch in Niger and were nominated for Best Artist of the Year in 1996. Their 2000 album “Mali Bero” paid homage to a great Djerma warrior, their second “Walambandi” adressed problems of contemporary Nigerien society, and the third, “Femme” was dedicated to women’s issues. Their newest, “Paix,” was released in 2008 at a moment when Niger dealt with a problem of insecurity in the north, and invited both the rebels and military to lay down their arms for a united and prosperous Niger.
Mali Yaro brings out the African soul in his music. His original, powerful lyrics speaking of social life, love, and above all of peace, and his rhythms move young and old alike to dance. He has toured widely in Africa, Europe, and North America and won many Nigerien and International awards and prizes
For this tour, Mali Yaro & the Goumbé Stars are joined by Hadiza Mangou, a popular Nigerien singer and songwriter known for her irresistable melodies, smooth voice, and social activism. “In my lyrics, I speak of serious things, I don’t compose at random,” she told the Nigerien cultural magazine Fofo in 2011. Many of her songs celebrate women and their place at the forefront of society, and urges parents to educate their daughters, while others praise the sacrifice and patriotism of teachers, encourage youth to overcome their inertia, and raise awareness among them about the challenges of contemporary life.
Hadiza Mangou
Hadiza Mangou began her career in 1997 as a backing vocalist with Les Tendistes, the famous orchestra of the University of Niamey, and has since released two solo albums and several singles and toured in Africa and Europe.
