The Lost Maestros
An artist-led music label provided opportunities to forgotten ambassadors of Mandingue music before it was too late
The Lost Maestros Collection is an initiative created by Mieruba-ML, an artist led independent music label co-founded by Mangala Camara who passed away in 2010 at age 50. This immense loss became a clarion call for his label to provide opportunities to forgotten and underappreciated ambassadors of Mandingue music in all of its diversity before it became too late.
Building on Mali's musical heritage
Between 2010 and 2018, Mieruba-ML produced the albums of 7 musicians and groups steeped in the musical repertoire of Mali's Ségou region in particular. For some it was their first time recording in studio while others were veterans of the industry. But all of them mastered not just their own communities music but were part of the generation to fuse ancestral melodies and lyrics with the blues, salsa, jazz, reggae, and afrobeat from around the world.
Master of the Soku
Zoumana “Zou” Tereta is an acclaimed master of the soku or the njarka, a monochord violin. Throughout his career, he accompanied and toured with renowned musicians such as Bassékou Kouyaté, Ali Farka Touré, Oumou Sangaré, Djénéba Seck, and Toumani Diabaté.
Zoumana Tereta and his soku (2016-08) by Moussa Koussa DiarraTimbuktu Renaissance
He spent time as a truck driver, criss-crossing the Ivory Coast and Mali with his trusted soku always by his side. Sadly, Zou passed away in 2017 before his album “Bozo Fama” was released.
A native of Saï, a Bozo village near the town of Macina, Zou use to hide behind baobab trees to avoid a father who did not want him to play music.
Zoumana Tereta plays his soku (2016-08) by Moussa Koussa DiarraTimbuktu Renaissance
His final album is based on rearrangements of Ségou's Bambara pentatonic repertoire augmented by the unique touch of his trusted soku.
Rhythms from the Bambouk Mountains
In the early 1970s, Tambaoura Jazz was formed in Kéniéba by the Commandant du Cercle under the artistic direction of Keletigui Diabaté in the context of the biennial cultural competitions organized by the Malian government.
Tambaoura Jazz rehearsing in Bamako (2016-07) by Mieruba-MLTimbuktu Renaissance
After showcasing their talents during the first phase of the competition held in each region’s capital, the members of each region’s official orchestra are comprised of the best musicians from local bands such as Tambaoura Jazz.
Tambaoura Jazz rehearsing in Bamako (2016) by Mieruba-MLTimbuktu Renaissance
Influenced by the traditional Khasonke et Mandingue repertoires, the musicians of Tambaoura Jazz featured on the album “Tribute to Mangala” are: Abdoul Karim Bagaga, Moulaye Mourou, Djélibani Sissoko, and Broda Diabaté.
A Tambaroua Jazz rehearsal session (2016-07) by Mieruba-MLTimbuktu Renaissance
Mangala Camara, who joined the band as a 12 year old in 1972, left the band in 1986 to embark on a solo career and Tambaoura Jazz continued to perform as an orchestra until 1990.
Mangala Camara
Askia Modibo
Zoumana Tereta
Labouzou
Trico Boy
Tiowa Dembélé
Namakoro Fomba
Mieruba-ML
Moussa Koussa Diarra
Delphine Gatinois
Adama Kouyaté
