Mamar Kassey
Cover of Alatoumi (2001), showing Yacouba Moumouni
Background information
Origin	Niamey, Niger
Genres	Afro-jazz fusion.
Years active	1995–present

Mamar Kassey is a jazz-pop-ethnic band from Niger. It is named after a legendary warrior who extended the Songhai Empire into the Sahara.

Contents 1 Style 2 Success 2.1 Makida Palabre 3 Musicians 4 Discography 5 References 5.1 External links

[edit] Style

Its leader is the singer and flautist, Yacouba Moumouni. The group combines traditional Hausa, Djerma, Peul and Songhai rhythms, instruments such as the Molo (lute with skin-covered body), and modern instruments such as the electric bass guitar. Their sound also incorporates western jazz, Moroccan and latin music.

[edit] Success

An eight piece group^[1] formed by Maumouni and guitarist Abdallah Alhassane in 1995, Mamar Kassey have released two albums internationally and toured Europe and the United States multiple times, coming to attention in France after their appearance at the Festival des Nuits Atypiques in Langon in 1998. They are one of the few Nigerien musical acts known internationally, and much beloved in their home country.

[edit] Makida Palabre

In 2004-2005, musicians from Mamar Kassey toured with Breton folk musicians, under the name Makida Palabre. This unique collabaration included the Breton musicians Pierre-Yves Prothais, Ronan Le Gourierec, Laurent Carré, and Youen Paranthoen playing Breton/celtic, western jazz, and West African instruments.^[2]

Music of  Niger: Subjects
Traditional
Hausa music	Berber music
Kora	Algaita
Jeli	Molo
Modern
Nigerien hip hop	Mamar Kassey
Timeline and Samples
Francophone Africa
Algeria - Burkina Faso - Burundi - Cameroon - Central African Rep. - Comoros - Congo-Brazzaville - Congo-Kinsasha - Côte d'Ivoire - Djibouti - Madagascar - Mali - Mauritius - Morocco - Niger - Rwanda - Senegal - Seychelles - Togo - Tunisia

[edit] Musicians

Though their line up changes, this is the core of musicians, performing at the Festival des nomades in Benin, 2000.^[3]

• Abdoulaye ALASSANE, (ABDALLAH): guitar.
• Adamou DAOUDA, (NAGOULI): kalangou.
• Boubacar Souleyman MAIGA, (BARI): percussion,calabash.
• Harouna ABDOU : electric bass guitar.
• Housseïni Namata CHIBAKOU: molo lute.
• Yacouba MOUMOUNI: flute, vocals.

[edit] Discography

• Denké-Denké, Daqui, Harmonia Mundi, (1999)
• Alatoumi, Daqui (2000), Harmonia Mundi (2001), World Village WV470003 (2001)
• Via Campesina, Daqui, Harmonia Mundi (2006)
• On va voir ça, Daqui, Harmonia Mundi (forthcomming, 2008)^[4]

[edit] References

• (French) collection of reviews and interviews for Mondomix program, at TV5Monde. Includes extensive history of the group

• (French) Interview by Pierre René-Worms, 2006,Radio France International. At the Ferveur Gnaoua Festival in Mogador, Morocco.

• BBC: Mamar Kassey Alatoumi. Reviewed by Peter Marsh. 20 November 2002.

• Afropop Worldwide: Mamar Kassey, Alatoumi. Reviewed by Banning Eyre, 2001.
• SONG OF THE SAHEL. Dan Maley, Macon Telegraph (Georgia, USA),2004-09-03, Page 3.

• (French) Video and biography at TV5Monde.

[edit] External links

• photos from the Fêt'arts festival in Burkina Faso, 2003.

• (French) Performance at the Alliance Franco-Marocaine d'El Jadida, Morocco (2007).

• (French) Radio programs and performance photos, 2006 at Radio France International.