Mama Sissoko was born in 1949 in Nioro du Sahel, 450 km north of Bamako, Mali. As a teenager, his parents entrusted him to his uncle Jeli Baba Sissoko in Bamako, a prominent griot and ngoni player. In this musical environment, Mama’s introduction to music was inevitable. Starting with percussion, he later transitioned to the guitar, using his school grant money to acquire an acoustic guitar, and persuading the mayor of his hometown to invest in an electric guitar. During his military draft service, Mama joined the Orchestra A de Bamako, eventually becoming an essential member of the Orchestre National de Bamako for six years. His musical talent took him on tours within Mali and abroad, including Libya, where he played for notable figures like Kwame Nkrumah, Haïlé Sélassié, and Che Guevara in Mopti. – Image and article by https://worldmusiccentral.org/2023/12/21/malian-guitar-maestro-mama-sissoko/