Music
Press
"I suspect many world music aficionados are still dubious about African rap. If so, this set could be the one to change opinions. The islamic element is extremly important here, and is frequently evident in the vocals (...); so too are the traditional elements of West Africa (...). Sister Fa's stupendous outing (the CD also contains a video interview with her) is a rare female representation and the very traditional sounding number from Mali's Les Escrocs should please all lovers of African music (...). One of those CDs to return to, again and again, discovering something new each time."
Rating: Special - 4 stars
Norman Darwen, Rock'n'Reel
Juli/August08 - Norman Darwen, Rock'n'Reel
"JA reggae-style toasting and US rap imitators rub along nicely with more rooted artists for an (...) interesting exercise in exploring the relationship between Islam and rap in West Africa. Senegal dominates, the lively Sister Fa the highlight."
fROOTS, June 08 - nn
Discography
2002 Compilation Art City (Producer: ENDA Tier Monde, Senegal).
2002 Compilation Affiche (Senegal).
2003 Participation in the album of Ding Ding Djelo from Guinea.
2003 Compilation Beny Prod. (Producer: Beny Production, Guinea).
2003 Compilation Tous Rapons Le Sida (Producer: Optimiste Production, Senegal).
2004 Compilation Moye Lolou (Producer: Maestro Sega, Senegal).
2005 Solo Album Hip Hop Yaw La Fal (Producer: Sister Fa, FNF, Senegal).
2008 Compilation Many Lessons (Producer: Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung; Label: Piranha Musik AG, Germany).
2009 Solo Album Sarabah (Producer : Piranha Musik AG, Initiative Musik gGmbH; Label: Piranha Musik AG, Germany).
Photos
Bio
"She takes her responsibility as an artist seriously and passionately. She is a talented defender of justice, and fighting for rights in life. She is an inspiration." (Gondwana Sound)
Fatou Mandiang Diatta, known under the name Sister Fa, was born in April 1982 in Dakar, Senegal.
The Beginnings
Sister Fa takes her first steps in rap music in 2000. Recording her first demo-tape, she gets to know the Senegalese rap community and participates in first festivals. One year later at the age of nineteen she is invited for the first time to perform at the Senegalese HipHop Awards where the best Hip-Hop singers are decorated. At the beginning of 2002 the French producer Philipp Mogan makes a film-documentary on Sister Fa, in which she is introducing to the Senegalese rap scene. She is invited to participate in a music-compilation called Art City with French an Senegalese rappers that is produced with the help of ENDA Tiers Monde. In the same year she represents the Senegal at the Festival de rap feminine international in Guinea Conakry.
In 2003 she joins the label FN'F (Fight n´ Forget) where she participates on several compilations. For the second time, she is invited to the Senegalese HipHop Awards dedicated that year to the fight against AIDS -and from which a compilation was released Tous Rappons le Sida with a contribution by Sister Fa.
First album and an award
In August 2005, her long awaited first solo-album was finally released in Senegal which she had produced herself with great love and enthusiasm. The same year in December at the fifth Senegalese HipHop Awards her dedicated hard work paid off and Sister Fa was nominated Best Newcomer of the Year.
Sister Fa uses her growing popularity and her music to progress her engagement and to create consciousness in social and political themes -focussing on womens situation in Senegal. In 2004 she participates at another compilation by producer Maestro Sega; Moye Lolou is released exclusively for the Senegalese market.
Move to Berlin
In march 2006, Sister Fa moves to Berlin, Germany, to live with her husband, an Austrian ethnologist and documentary filmmaker. In Berlin, she continues her social and political engagement. She participated at a compilation of the bpb (Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung) on the subject Pop and Islam which was released under the title Many Lessons with the label Piranha. Since her arrival Sister Fa also played concerts, e.g. at the Ethno-Film-Festival in Dahlem, Berlin, 2006 and at Yaam in Berlin.
It was in Berlin as well where she met the members of her future band. Since two years now, Sister Fa is constantly developing her repertoire and her style with these professional Jazz musicians. Traditional senegalese rhythms are joined by rap beats, soul, jazz and reggae elements.
In the meantime, she discovered her amazing singing voice which alouds her to switch with ease between rap, African melodies and pure soul.
New album
As a height of her musical career, Sister Fa released her international debut album Sarabah - Tales from the Flipside of Paradise together with the label Piranha in May 2009 (e.g. Germany, France, GB, USA)
With big success Sister Fa & Band are playing concerts in renowned clubs and festivals such as : Moods-Club (Zurich, CH), Kulturbrauerei and the Carneval of Cultures (Berlin, DE), Jazz club A-Trane, Afrika-Festival (Osnabrück, DE), Odyssee - Kulturen der Welt-Festival (DE), Cross Culture Festival in Warsaw (biggest World music festival in Poland), Popdeurope Festival (Berlin), at Damon Albarns Africa Express in Paris, FR.
Projects
With all her heart, Sister Fa stands up for the fight against female genital cutting. The wish to sensibilise the population of her home country was the origin of her Education sans Mutilation tour.In 2008, she toured with her band through Senegal for three weeks.
In October 2009 she goes to performance in New York. Together with artists such as Harry Belafonte, Nile Rogers, Angélique Kidjo, she is invited as an artist and as a peace ambassador to the UN Day Concert themed A tribute to peacekeeping.
Currently Sister Fa is planning a second tour through Senegal for January/February 2010. The financiation will be realised with the help of several NGOs and benefit concerts organised by Sister Fa.
After this, Sister Fa & Band were on German tour in Munich, Cologne, Hmaburg and Berlin in March 2010 and are now packing for the summer festivals!
Links
