Les Amazones d’Afrique’s new single ‘Queens’ is an anthem for everyday women in Mali

Featuring Malian singer Rokia Koné on lead vocals, ‘Queens’ brings a fresh perspective to a traditional Bambara song which encourages women to be strong and resilient in the face of hardship.

It is a song of solidarity for young married women who are disrespected by their husbands, their co-wives, and their in-laws every day. Whilst they have much to endure and sacrifice, the song reminds them of the important role they play in family life, and that they are not alone; they are ‘Queens’.

Les Amazones d’Afrique were formed in Bamako, Mali, in 2014 by three renowned Malian music stars and social change activists, Mamani Keïta, Oumou Sangaré and Mariam Doumbia. Since then, the collective has expanded to involve many female artists from across Africa and the diaspora.

On International Women’s Day, the band wish to amplify the messages on their album Amazones Power, addressing the serious issues facing women in Africa and across the world every day: gender inequality, forced marriage, and violence towards women and girls.

“To me particularly,” says the band’s youngest member, Niariu, “the biggest message would be to say that there are voices that really need to be heard— and we have to make space for all women to express themselves and take part in solutions. We can’t make feminism only about gender equality in western countries when a lot of women don’t have access to basic human rights. If we’re not all free, then some become the oppressors while others stay oppressed.”

Amazones Power is out now. Les Amazones d’Afrique are on tour across Europe in Spring/Summer 2020.

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