Idrissa Soumaoro, born near Bamako in 1949, is one of the relative unknowns in Malian music, taking part in a number of important developments, but letting others take the spotlight in general. His early years in music were spent as part of les Ambassadeurs alongside Salif Keita and Kante Manfila in their formative years. After his time as a performing musician, Soumaoro left the music business largely to develop other courses. Studying in Cambridge, Hereford, and Birmingham, Soumaoro earned degrees in English, Braille music, and special education, which he quickly put to use ...