Oumou Sangaré (1968) is a Grammy Award-winning singer from Mali. As a child, she sang to help her mother, also a singer, support the family after her father abandoned them. It made her known as a good singer even at age five. In 1990 she released her first album, Moussoulou, which sold over 200,000 copies and made her a superstar in Africa. Sangaré is considered an ambassador of the Malian region Wassoulou; her work has been inspired by the music and traditional dances of the area. She composes her own songs, which often include social criticism, especially concerning women's low status in society. The singer has performed in big venues all over the world and in 2010, contributed to Herbie Hancock’s album The Imagine Project, along with other well-known artists. Her latest album, Kounadia, was released in 2012.