Nâ Hawa Doumbia – La Grande Cantatrice Malienne Vol. 3
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La Grande Cantatrice Malienne Vol. 3 is the first official release from the revered Awesome Tapes From Africa blog. When your music blog enters the realm of record label, it says you must be doing something special and noteworthy. And since 2006, Awesome Tapes From Africa has done just that, saving hundreds and hundreds of little known African music albums from falling into total obscurity, or becoming forgotten artifacts forever lost to time. Because of ATFA’s efforts, these rare, wonderful albums have received a new lease on life and a wider audience; history has been preserved.
To kick off life as a label, Malian singer Nâ Hawa Doumbia’s long out of print 1982 album, La Grande Cantatrice Malienne Vol. 3, is restored and reissued for future generations. Like many of the albums out of Africa, this four-song effort is a political and social statement, an outlet to voice anger and frustration. Doumbia sings with a bit of a rasp, pushing all the air from her lungs as she expounds on the things that trouble, not just her, but her fellow countrymen and countrywomen. Regardless of whether or not you understand her words and message, her lilting voice and powerful delivery give just as much detail as words. Her, sometimes, pained tone conveys a sense of oppression, lowering the language barrier between cultures.
The instrumentation could be considered rather minimalist, but, more specifically, its repetitious character creates a meditative mood. It provides a perfect backdrop for Doumbia to sing over, allowing her voice to take center stage with its emotive spirit. With the support of guitar, piano/keyboard, some percussion, and a kamale ngoni – a sort of harp native to Africa – these four songs possess a soothing, ruminative feel. The music might feel a bit too repetitive, especially on the 10 minute opener “Ko ro Dia,” but it’s important to remember that it’s about the groove and journey of the voice more than anything else.
Compared to some of Awesomes Tapes' selection from over the past five years, La Grande Cantatrice Malienne Vol. 3 isn't necessarily the strongest, most compelling release. There seems to be an issue with pitch, both vocally and instrumentally, which is most likely attributable to the tape the album was recorded onto and how it has aged. And while the repetitious nature of the songs is a study in groove and focus, it can, at times, make the music feel slightly static – at least to those used to more immediate, pop-centric music.
From the gentle, flowing rhythm of "Danaya" to the interweaving strings of "Kungo Sogoni," La Grande Cantatrice Malienne Vol. 3 is rich in emotion and full of historical significance. Nâ Hawa Doumbia capture's the essence of time and place, documenting both personal and cultural strife with her singular voice. It's an album that provides a window into both a moment in history and the journey of one woman. Doumbia breaks free of the societal chains that bind her mind and spirit, sharing an inspiring freedom through her performance that might have been buried in the past if it hadn't been for Awesome Tapes From Africa. With a nice start like this, it's exciting to see where the Awesome Tapes label will head next.
Nâ Hawa Doumbia - "Kungo Sogoni"
La Grande Cantatrice Malienne Vol. 3 is available now from Awesome Tapes on vinyl and CD. Pick it up here.
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