Doumbia, Nahawa
La Grande Cantatrice Malienne, Vol. 1
Awesome Tapes From Africa's reissue of Nahawa Doumbia's debut recording 'La Grande Cantatrice Malienne Vol. 1', is building on the success of the label's first-ever reissue back in 2011, Doumbia's 'La Grande Cantatrice Malienne Vol. 3'. This seminal classic, which is still sought-after in Mali today, is finally available for the first time internationally with remastered audio. The recording looks back to the beginning of Doumbia's long career, when she was performing in a simple voice and acoustic guitar format. This was before she added bass and drums, and finally the electric guitar and synths for which she became known more recently. Released in 1981 by the excellent Cote d'Ivoire-based AS Records, the singer was barely 20 years old when it was recorded. She was accompanied by her future husband N'Gou Bagayoko on acoustic guitar, whose style echoes the nimble runs of traditional kamele n'goni players. The stark simplicity of this highly intimate recording, the audible room acoustics, the occasionally in-the-red vocals-do not obscure the mature strength of her voice. On 'Vol. 1' Doumbia performs her songs with the tenacity and hunger of a young artist on the cusp.