The red carpet is rolled out for the superstar diva from Maliba, shining brightly in the Wassoulou constellation, in New York and Paris! The majestic singer-songwriter, a Grammy Award winner, will kick off the 40th edition with a live opening concert from MTelus. A memorable programme by an artist acclaimed for her voice, her charisma and her advocacy for women’s rights and education.

With forty years of singing and touring under her belt, Oumou Sangaré is one of the first Malian artists to have brought the music of this Sahelian country to an international audience. Her sisters Inna Modja and Aya Nakamura are grateful to her. A native of Sikasso in southern Mali, the Fulani singer has conquered the world, proudly establishing herself as a griot like her mother, Aminata Diakité. The singer made her mark at the age of 21\. With a powerful, lyrical voice—a sounding board for her nomadic soul—she made her mark as early as 1989 with the album Moussolou (The Women). Her traditional Mandinka music, lulled by the chords of the ngoni, guitar and violin, evolved over the course of her recordings, becoming more pop-oriented.

Whatever the rhythm, Oumou Sangaré’s messages are imbued with sincerity and courage. Her story is that of thousands of women in a polygamous patriarchal society which she denounces and rejects. An exceptional lyricist, her songs are feminist and militant in nature. No to female genital mutilation. No to forced marriage. Women’s rights are at the forefront of her work.

Highly regarded by her American peers, the Malian artist has inspired Beyoncé with her track “Diaraby Nene” and Alicia Keys, with whom she has performed a duet. Working closely with Tony Allen, the drummer of the legendary Fela Kuti, she recorded the album Mogoya in 2017, adopting a more Afrobeat sound.

The Malian artist has received a host of accolades, including the UNESCO/International Music Council Music Prize for her musical richness, her influence on world peace and the unity of peoples. Contemporary and in tune with the pulse of the world, the star will move us in a way befitting the musical queen of all genres that she embodies – and who is here to stay…

07/07/2026