Momo Wandel Soumah
Momo Wandel Soumah (1926 – June 15, 2003) was a singer, composer, and saxophonist from Guinea, recognisable by his characteristic gravelly voice. Soumah started out in the 1950s playing in dance bands, but moved to modern Guinean music following the cultural revolution. He was a part of the greatly influential Syli Orchestra (originally Syli Orchestre National) who were formed under the instruction of the first elected president Sekou Toure.
Momo Wandel Soumah
- Name
- Momo Wandel Soumah
- Born
- B 1926
- Died
- 15 June 2003
- Place of death
- Dixinn, Conakry, Guinea
- Occupation
- Musician, singer, composer, musical director
- Nationality
- Guinea
- Fields
- jazz
- Languages
- French
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Documentary summary
Momo Wandel Soumah (1926 – June 15, 2003) was a singer, composer, and saxophonist from Guinea, recognisable by his characteristic gravelly voice. Soumah started out in the 1950s playing in dance bands, but moved to modern Guinean music following the cultural revolution. He was a part of the greatly influential Syli Orchestra (originally Syli Orchestre National) who were formed under the instruction of the first elected president Sekou Toure.
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In this article
Biography
Biography
The group of Guinea's elite musicians were selected to travel throughout Guinea and inspire and instruct musicians across the country and help set up the regional orchestras that were key to Sekou Toure's 'Authenticité' programme to promote and proliferate 'authentic' Guinean traditional music after colonial rule. From the mid 1980s Soumah developed an idiosyncratic blend of jazz and African traditional music. At the time of his death Soumah was musical director of Circus Baobab.
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Momo Wandel Soumah • Born — B 1926 • Died — 15 June 2003 • Place of death — Dixinn, Conakry, Guinea • Origin — Labé, Guinea • Genre — Jazz, African traditional • Occupation — Musician, singer, composer, musical director • Instrument — Tenor saxophone, Alto saxophone, Clarinet, Banjo, Mandolin • Years Active — 1951–2003 • Label — Buda Musique, Fonti Musicali • Associated Acts — La Joviale Symphony, La Douce Parisette, Syli Orchestra, Kélétigui et ses Tambourins, Wandel Sextet, Circus Baobab
Places
Named by the record
Places
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Labé.
Birth place
Dixinn.
Death place
Discography
• Matchowé (1992) • Afro Swing (2001) • Momo Le Doyen (soundtrack, 2007) • Contributing artist • Unwired: Africa (2000, World Music Network) • Desert Blues 2 (2002, Network)
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Lobeck, Katharina. Obituary: Momo Wandel Soumah, Thursday 10 July 2003. The Guardian. July 10, 2003.
- 2.Keletigui et ses Tabourinis: The Syliphone Years CD booklet. Sterns Africa.
- 3.Afropop Worldwide. Momo Wandel Soumah: Passing of an African Jazz Original.
- 4.Obituary: Momo Wandel Soumah, Friday 20 June 2003. The Independent.
References
Citations
References
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reference work
Secondary witnessreference work
Secondary witness
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 20 August 2026.
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