Sacred music - Malam Mamane Barka

As a nomad of the toubou tribe, Mamane Barka is the indisputable son of the desert and the world´s only remaining master of the biram. He maintains the tradition single-handedly, bringing the boat-shaped instrument to world´s attention with his own unique blend of desert blues. Barka is so far the only master of the Biram in Niger and all over the world. 

 

He inherited this instrument from an old master who died in 2006. With the assistance of Barka this unique instrument is not dead. He himself is a well know musician in Niger, famous for many popular songs he composed in the eighties and nineties. But today his dedication is the BIRAM. He plays with Oumarou Adamou, a well known percussionist in Niger who plays three different traditional percussions during the show.

 

Touring party: Malam Mamane Barka (voice, biram), Oumarou Adamaou (percussion, backing vocals), 1 tourmanager

Recordings: Malam Mamane Barka live at WOMAD Charlton Park 2008 (BBC recording)

 

 

Management and booking worldwide

Visit the artist's web site: www.mamanebarka.com