Alpha Ousmane “Hama” Sankaré (aka Pedro) was killed in the vehicle he was riding in when it was struck by an improvised explosive device (IED) land mine 30 minutes from Niafunke, on Sunday, March 29, 2020 at approximately 3:00 PM. There were 9 people in the vehicle.
This is a major tragedy not only for the music of Northern Mali but also for the country which continues to be plagued by insecurity. The explosion occurred on the national legislative Election Day and Hama had gone home to Niafunke to vote. He was on route back to Bamako when he was killed.
Hama Sankare had accompanied many great artists of Northern Mali. Most notable was his longtime close collaboration with Ali Farka Toure with whom he was best known for his ground breaking work as calabash percussionist and backing singer. Sankare can be heard on Toure’s albums: The Red Album, The Source, Talking Timbuktu, Niafunke and Savane.
He began his career in the early 1970s playing with l’Orchestre de Gao and le Troupe Regionale de Niafunké. In addition to touring the world with Toure, Sankare had performed and recorded with longtime friend, Afel Bocoum, the Songhoy Allstars, Samba Toure and Mamadou Kelly.
After Ali Farka Toure’s death, Sankare was a founding member of the tribute band the Ali Farka Toure Allstars.
Nick Gold, Ali Farka Toure’s producer after learning of Sankare’s death called him “A lovely and unique man.”
In 2016 Sankare asked Chris Nolan to produce his first album in his own name. That album, “Ballebe” was followed a year later by a second release titled “Niafunke.”
Chris Nolan (Clermont Records) said: “A deep connection to the history of Malian music has been lost. He was an incredibly warm, kind and generous man – a mentor to many young musicians in Mali. His death is a great loss to everyone not the least his family to whom I express my deepest sorrow and sympathy.”
More about Hama Sankare.
Author: World Music Central News Room
World music news from the editors at World Music Central