Habib Koite - Batoumambe

Batoumambe

A Batoumanbé wï koro Batoumanbé
Ma bien aimée sirène
A Batoumanbé wï koro Batoumanbé
Gné bolo da sï kan, Sin na diyatê
Sin na diyatê, Si tigi la diya do
Kan bolo da Kanna, Kanna diyatê
Kanna diyatê, Kan Tigui la diya dôn
Je passe mon bras autour de ton cou parce que j'aime être avec toi
ou, ou , ou, ou
Gné bolo da bolo kan bolo la diyatê
Bolo tigui la diya dôn
A Batoumanbé wï koro Batoumanbé
A Batoumanbé wï koro Batoumanbé
(Instrumental balafon)
Kawa gnon fai Segou, Sirala diyaté
Segou diyaté I fait tama le diya dôn
Ka gnognai kôdala dji la diyatê
Dji la diyatê I fait Baro de diyadon
ou, ou, ou, ou
Kan bein ponni kan banconi ponni kan
Ponni diyaté I yé ile diyadôn
A Batoumanbé wï koro Batoumanbé
A Batoumanbé wï koro Batoumanbé
(Instrumental balafon)
ou, ou, ou, ou
Péré pé pé (x 4)
(Instrumental balafon)
ou, ou, ou, ou
(Instrumental balafon)
Péré pé pé (x4)
A Batoumanbé wï koro Batoumanbé
A Batoumanbé wï koro Batoumanbé

Batoumambe is a woman of a fishing tribe of Mali. She is loved by a man of another tribe. But, being of different tribes, they can never be married. He says, "If I put my hand around your neck, it is not out of desire but out of love for the owner of the neck." Their impossible romance inspired the Malian proverb, "Not all love ends in marriage."

By Naomi DeBruyn
This review is for Baro (Audio CD)

Habib Koite is a musician straddling the past and the future. Together with his band, Bamada (which translates to - in the mouth of the crocodile - and is a nickname for the inhabitants of Bamako), Habib is creating wonders in the world music genre. He comes from a noble line of Khassonke griots, and learned his unique guitar style while accompanying his griot mother. However, Habib's passion is accredited to his Grandfather who played the djelly n'goni (a traditional instrument which is linked with the
hunters of the Wassolou region of Mali).

As I mentioned above, Habib has a unique style of guitar playing. He tunes his guitar to the pentatonic scale, and plays upon open strings. At times he sounds bluesy, at others more Latin and flamenco style, but it is a very distinctive and extremely pleasing sound which Habib has brought to light. His vocals are soothing, warm and inviting -- the perfect complement to his guitar style; and quite unlike the griot style! On this album, Habib and his band are joined by Keletigui Diabate on the balafon (a wooden-keyed
xylophone originating from West Africa).

The accompanying booklet is a delight, filled with pictures and the lyrics in three languages, one of which is English, thankfully allowing me to fully understand the meaning behind the beautiful and haunting melodies found on the disc. However, it doesn't compare with the music!

The track opens with Batoumambe which translates to - name of a woman from the Bozo fishing tribe - . The incredible rhythms in this track will not allow you to just sit still, while the lyrics tell a sad tale. Two people from different worlds find themselves in love, a love which cannot be fulfilled for neither can cross the differences between them. "Not all love ends in marriage..."