Oumou Sangaré plays McCarter Theatre in Princeton Friday
sang on the streets in Mali to raise money for her mom and siblings. Now she can’t walk down the streets of Bamako without drawing a crowd of people who want to talk with the renowned singer and successful businesswoman.
Sangaré's career began shortly after her father left her family to live elsewhere with another woman. To raise money, Sangaré sang on the streets as a young girl, then had her first professional gig at the age of five in front of a crowd at a stadium. By the time she was 16, she went on an international tour with a group of musicians.
“Building things makes me happy,” she said of her non-musical ventures. “Besides, when I am in business, I am not a star anymore. I talk to workers, I argue with the plumber or the site manager. When working on my business, I am just a woman named Oumou Sangaré, not a celebrity.”“It was a new experience to me, to be an everyday person,” she said with a laugh. “I felt so free. No selfies, no autographs, being able to walk and shop quietly. But soon, I felt also bored.
She also tapped an old colleague Mamadou Sidibé, who plays the traditional n’goni African lute, to create a seamless amalgam of contemporary and ancient sounds. “Weird context, new musicians, old friend,” Sangaré said. “All that gave ‘Timbuktu’ a special touch.”