Oumou Sangare - Seya (2009)

Oumou Sangaré has no time for modesty. On the second track here a griot, a West African traditional musician, breaks in with a lengthy praise song about Sangaré herself, announcing: "Oumou has always told us the truth." It's a move that might embarrass even the most bragging hip-hop star, but Sangaré is well aware of her own importance. Until the dramatic re-emergence of Rokia Traoré, Sangaré was the undisputed female star in Mali, thanks to her distinctive, almost funky style and her bravely uncompromising lyrics. These new songs tackle anything from death and relationships to the pain caused by enforced underage marriage, while her commanding, sometimes rapid and declamatory vocals are matched against the jittery rhythms of the "hunter's lute" and the kamel ngoni, with more than 50 musicians involved. There's anything from flute to Hammond organ added in, with guitar from the brilliant Djelimady Tounkara, percussion from Nigeria's Tony Allen, and saxophone from Pee Wee Ellis (of James Brown fame), who played on her classic album Worotan in 1996. But such busy production work isn't always needed. This is Sangaré's first new album in six years, and she's still in confident, impressive form.