Track Listing

1. Sounsoumba
2. Sukunyali
3. Kounadya
4. Donso
5. Wele Wele Wintou
6. Senkele te sira
7. Djigui
8. Seya
9. Iyo Djeli
10. Mogo Kele
11. Koroko

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #9130 in Music
• Released on: 2009-02-23
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .22 pounds

The Observer Music Monthly, (Charlie Gillett), February 15, 2009
(5 stars) Spectacular...a majestic mistress of many moods who presides over her musicians with regal confidence...a masterpiece.

Songlines (Top of the World album), (Rose Skelton), March 2009
(4 stars) Seya is a massive album of 11 big hitting tracks that leaves the listener breathless...an undisputed heavyweight classic.

Uncut, (Nigel Williamson), March 2009
(4 stars) Africa's premier diva restates her prominence...mixes traditional epic grooves with jazzier, more experimental arrangements.

Customer Reviews

Essential new album.....
This album may well turn out to be the African album of the year - Oumou's voice is incredibly strong & soulful and the record is perfectly constructed - let it build and you will be entranced by the end. The sleeve notes and translations will tell you exactly what she is singing about, but in many ways the music speaks for itself....whether you are a new listener to Malian music or someone who is familiar with Oumou's previous albums, there is no way you will regret buying this record!

Solid and truly African
Seya is the first album in six years for Malian singer Oumou Sangare and it's been well worth the wait. This is a very solid, passionate and uncompromising album, full of strong persuasive vocals and chunky rhythms, with seriously creative arrangements played by a mighty talented backing band.

Many African albums are influenced by Western sounds, with varying degrees of success, but Oumou Sangare has retained the traditional sound and feel of her homeland. No cheesy synths or guitars here, but gutsy rootsy sounds that reach out and grab the listener from beginning to end.

On this album as on others she sings about taboo subjects like polygamy, under-aged forced marriage, sensual love and the role of women in African society. Clearly she has a strong sense of values and that strength pervades this very confident and soulful album.

The funky Wassoulou sound, recorded in Bamako, arranged and produced by Cheikh Tidiane Seck (who must know just about everyone in the African music industry) is sophisticated and intricate so there is depth and joy ("Seya") on many levels.

Classic African music
Oumou Sangare is right up there amongst the best African singers. Her voice is strong and beautiful and Mali's Wassolou sound is almost uniquely attractive amongst African music styles. Her previous album Oumou was a true classic and a worldwide hit. It's been a wait of many years for this next album recorded in Bamako but it's just as good. Anyone who enjoys African music should add this recording to their collection.