What does Tata Pound mean?
The name Tata Pound is composed with two words: "Tata" and "Pound". The name "Tata" results from the history of the pre-colonial Mali, it is the name which was given to a rampart which protected the town of Sikasso (in the south of Mali) against the invaders whether African or European. The wall of the Tata was seven (7) meters high for three (3) meters broad. The choice of the name "Tata", comes from the fact that the members of the band (all Malians), having all been to the Malian school, were marked by this period of the history of their country that they consider as being one of the most glorious. This choice also shows the will of the rappers of the band to highlight their belonging to Africa and in particular to Mali, and by the same occasion, to point out the prestigious past of their nation which, in their opinion, has the obligation to enter a future which should be quite as radiant.
To sum up, the "Tata" must show the serious, solemn, intellectual, and afro-optimist side of the band: the opposite of the silliness. The word "Pound" is English, this word indicates the British monetary unit. This word represents the festive character of certain speeches of the band, and the vocation of distracting the band Tata Pound has, which one could qualify by: "the Fun side".

The group is constituted of three rappers:
- Adama Mamadou Diarra alias Djo Dama: student at the socio-anthropology faculty of Bamako, he is 24 years old.
- Sidy Soumaoro alias Ramses: student in town and country planning, he is 25 years old.
- Mahamadou Dicko alias Dixon: student like the two others, he prepares a licentiate’s degree in mathematics in Bamako, he is 23 years old.

These three rappers have in common a certain number of things: they are friends since childhood, are from the same quarter (Badalabougou Sema in Bamako), share the same passion for rap and have the same sources of inspiration: the street and the scientific and historical writings for the texts and the reggae and the rap for the music. Among their preferred artists, one can note Barrington Levy, Bob Marley, IAM, Tupac, Salif Keita and Public Enemy. The group was created in 1995 following a competition of rap. It includes a manager/productor named Mamani Samassékou called Abba and of a stage manager named Balla Gueye since June 1999.

The history Chapter I: Genesis.
There is in Bamako Mali since nearly five years a rap band named Tata Pound, composed of three rappers and the average age is 24 years. In 1995, after several years of "secret" training, Tata Pound is officially born, and this to take part in the first competition of rap in Mali called "rap house". This competition intended for the rappers beginners and of which they will be the first prizes winner is at the base of the "creation" of the Malian hip-hop movement.
This victory allowed the band to be known in the underground environment, where they will work hard during five years. These five years will be marked by several models with which they will be requested for first parts of concert, in particular: PBS (positive black soul) in 1996, Daara-J in 1999, but also for parties in night-clubs, concerts in Bamako and in the provinces of Mali, and concerts of awareness to fight against AIDS.


In 1997, a passage to the famous TV emission "flash hip-hop" of the Office of Radio Television Diffusion of Mali propels our young talents under the spotlights with the title "confrontation", title which fustigates the behaviour of the Malian politicians, enable to agree on the application of the electoral process which was held the same year. This song had known such a success at the time that the Tata Pound became one of the leading groups of the movement.

CHAPTER II: The ascension towards the top.
It is only in year 2000, nearly five years after their official beginning, that the Tata Pound release their first album (k7 Cd) entitled " Rien ne va plus".
This album born of the meeting with the label Farabiz will mark the real beginning of the ascension of the band. Including engaged, sensitizing and festive tracks, the group obtains the respect of the adults, the admiration of the young people and less young people and the consideration of the Malian show biz as a whole. Still today, the first single "jukoroma tintin" is in all the memories and on all the lips. With this success, the three mc's start a national tour during the summer 2000 which will lead them in six of the eight areas of Mali, as well as in Burkina Faso (Bobo Dioulasso). This opus, sold at more than 8.000 specimens (nearly 35.000 with the piracy), a record in Mali, was entirely realized in Dakar (Senegal) at the studio Sama and recorded the participation of stars of the African hip-hop like PBS, Pee Froiss, and Sama Flavor.

CHAPTER III: The top.
The year 2001: Tata Pound sees its efforts rewarded. Having reached a statute of "stars", the rappers are the guests of all the great cultural events in Mali and prepare their second album which will be released on June 21, 2001.
Entirely recorded in Dakar at the studio Yes belonging to Steven Graf Toeteberg, this album reflects the Tata Pound at 100%. Produced by the band, this work of six titles baptized "Ni allah sonama" and qualified extraordinary, constitutes a real musical revolution in Mali. Using the sampler (with sample of traditional music), the revolution is as well musical as textual; the texts are better written, more engaged, for some more festive and better arranged.
It is the beginning of the "Tata Pound Mania". The respect and the consideration of the elders increase. The young people have no other choices than the identification with the members of the band who reach the statute of stars but also of opinion leaders.
Sold at more than 20.000 specimens without counting piracy (four times more according to the estimations), it is posted as being the best sale of rap product in Mali during the year 2001. As for the first album, a national tour of two months and with 20 dates is made during the summer 2001. On these cumulated dates, more than 60.000 Malians saw Tata Pound in concert through Mali. In Bamako, the festival was marvellous at the time of the concert of dedication of the album on June 28 (one week after the release) where nearly 5.000 people were present in the hall Banzoumana Sissoko of the palace of the culture which however contains only 4500 places. Still today, Tata pound continues to exploit this album.

The band today:
It took part in the international festival of the youth of Koulikoro (Mali) called Festiyeelen and Tiken Jah Fakoly will take part in their next album which is in preparation.
Tata Pound is today number IV at the classification of Top Etoiles CFI on CFITV.
A certain number of projects which are promising.

Signed ABBA, the manager of the band
animator/producer of the TV emission “generation 21”
Office of Radio Television diffusion of Mali.

Contact: Tata Pound Mail