{{Short description|French-Malian musical collective}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2025}} {{Infobox musical artist | background = group_or_band | name = Lamomali | image = Concert Lamomali Toulouse 2017.jpg | image_size = | image_upright = | landscape = yes | alt = | caption = Lamomali performing in 2017 | alias = | origin = {{hlist|France|Mali}} | genre = {{hlist|World music|African music|pop|rock}} | discography = | years_active = 2015–present | label = Wagram | spinoffs = | spinoff_of = | current_members = * Matthieu Chedid * Fatoumata Diawara * Sidiki Diabaté * Mamadou Sidiki Diabaté | past_members = * Toumani Diabaté | website = {{URL|labo-m.net}} }}
'''Lamomali''' is a collective of musicians, mostly of French and Malian origin, formed primarily at the initiative of Matthieu Chedid, aka -M-, in 2015. The group blends African, world, rock, and pop music. Their self-titled, debut album was released in 2017 and was followed by ''Totem'' in 2025.
==History== Following a trip to Mali in 2006, where he met the kora player Toumani Diabaté and his son Sidiki, French musician Matthieu Chedid, also known as -M-, decided to form a musical collective with the duo that also included singer-songwriter Fatoumata Diawara. They named it Lamomali, which means "the soul of Mali" ({{lang|fr|l'âme au Mali}}), in French.<ref>{{cite web|title=« Lamomali », le projet qui valorise la musique malienne |url=https://www.africatopsuccess.com/lamomali-le-projet-qui-valorise-la-musique-malienne/ |website=africatopsuccess.com |date=22 June 2018 |access-date=13 December 2025 |language=fr |trans-title="Lamomali", a project that promotes Malian music}}</ref> Chedid thus fulfilled a passion he had for the Western African nation,<ref>{{cite web|title=-M- à propos de l'album Lamomali : « Mon disque est politique » |url=https://www.leparisien.fr/week-end/m-a-propos-de-l-album-lamomali-mon-disque-est-politique-01-04-2017-6807999.php |website=leparisien.fr |date=1 April 2017 |access-date=13 December 2025 |language=fr |trans-title=-M- on the album Lamomali: "My album is political"}}</ref><ref name="franceinfo2">{{cite web|title=Matthieu Chedid alias -M- : "Lamomali est un hommage aux signes intérieurs de richesse" |url=https://www.franceinfo.fr/culture/musique/pop/interview-matthieu-chedid-alias-m-quot-lamomali-est-un-hommage-aux-signes-interieurs-de-richessequot_3364711.html |website=franceinfo.fr |date=6 April 2017 |access-date=13 December 2025 |language=fr |trans-title=Matthieu Chedid aka -M-: "Lamomali is a tribute to the inner signs of wealth"}}</ref> and in 2015, the ensemble released its debut, self-titled album.<ref name="franceinfo">{{cite web|title=Musique. "Lamomali" de -M-, un projet pour "remonter les vibrations" |url=https://www.franceinfo.fr/monde/afrique/mali/musique-lamomali-de-m-un-projet-pour-remonter-les-vibrations_2141000.html |website=franceinfo.fr |date=12 April 2017 |access-date=3 December 2025 |language=fr |trans-title=Music. "Lamomali" by -M-, a project to "raise the vibrations"}}</ref> The record includes contributions from Oxmo Puccino; Ibrahim Maalouf; Philippe Jaroussky; Seu Jorge; Nekfeu; Mamani Keïta; Chedid's father, Louis; and Youssou N'Dour; among others.<ref name="franceinfo" /> The group subsequently went on tour, performing in several cities in France and Belgium.<ref name="franceinfo2" /> This resulted in a live album, ''Lamomali Airlines'', released in 2017.<ref name="francebleu">{{cite web|title=-M- et Fatoumata Diawara pour "Lamomali" : "Il faut célébrer la beauté de la positivité" |url=https://www.francebleu.fr/emissions/decibels-l-emission/m-et-fatoumata-diawara-pour-lamomali-il-faut-celebrer-la-beaute-de-la-positivite-8527056 |website=francebleu.fr |date=30 April 2025 |access-date=13 December 2025 |language=fr |trans-title=-M- and Fatoumata Diawara for "Lamomali": "We must celebrate the beauty of positivity"}}</ref> ''Lamomali'' won in the World Music Album category at the 2018 Victoires de la Musique ceremony.<ref>{{cite web|title="Les Victoires de la musique" 2018 : Le palmarès complet |url=https://www.ozap.com/actu/-les-victoires-de-la-musique-2018-le-palmares-complet/550204 |website=ozap.com |date=10 February 2018 |access-date=13 December 2025 |language=fr |trans-title="Les Victoires de la musique" 2018: The complete list of winners}}</ref>
Toumani Diabaté died in 2024,<ref>{{cite web|title=Nécrologie : l'artiste Toumani Diabaté est décédé à l'âge de 58 ans |url=https://www.journaldumali.com/necrologie-lartiste-toumani-diabate-est-decede-a-lage-de-58-ans/ |website=journaldumali.com |date=19 July 2024 |access-date=13 December 2025 |language=fr |trans-title=Obituary: musician Toumani Diabaté dead at the age of 58}}</ref> during the recording of Lamomali's second studio album, ''Totem'', which was released in 2025.<ref name="francebleu" /> The record was dedicated to him as well as to Philippe Zdar, who had mixed ''Lamomali'' and who died in 2019.<ref>{{cite web|title=Philippe Zdar, mort d'un pionnier |url=https://www.parismatch.com/Culture/Musique/Philippe-Zdar-mort-d-un-pionnier-1633284 |website=parismatch.com |date=30 June 2019 |access-date=13 December 2025 |language=fr |trans-title=Philippe Zdar, death of a pioneer}}</ref> It includes contributions from such artists as Amadou & Mariam, Oxmo Puccino, Philippe Jaroussky, and Yamê.<ref name="francebleu" /> The group subsequently embarked on a tour,<ref name="francebleu" /><ref>{{cite web|title=Matthieu Chedid et son projet Lamomali feront la tournée des festivals puis des Zénith et Arena ! Découvrez toutes les dates et réservez |url=https://www.infoconcert.com/news/matthieu-chedid-et-son-projet-lamomali-feront-la-tournee-des-festivals-puis-des-zenith-et-arena--decouvrez-toutes-les-dates-et-reservez-20473.html |website=infoconcert.com |date=14 November 2024 |access-date=13 December 2025 |language=fr |trans-title=Matthieu Chedid and his Lamomali project will be touring festivals, then Zénith and Arena venues! Discover all the dates and book your tickets now!}}</ref> which culminated in the live album ''Totem Live'' later that year. Also in 2025, ''Totem'' was re-released as ''Lamomali je t'aime'', with six new tracks.
==Band members== '''Current''' * Matthieu Chedid – vocals, guitar, other instruments * Fatoumata Diawara – vocals * Sidiki Diabaté – kora, vocals * Mamadou Sidiki Diabaté – kora
'''Past''' * Toumani Diabaté – kora (died 2024)
==Discography== '''Studio albums''' * ''Lamomali'' (2017) * ''Totem'' (2025) – reissued as ''Lamomali je t'aime'', also in 2025
'''Live albums''' * ''Lamomali Airlines'' (2017) * ''Totem Live'' (2025)
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{official website|labo-m.net}} * {{Discogs artist}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Atoll}} Category:French world music groups Category:French pop music groups Category:French rock music groups Category:Musical groups established in 2015 Category:2015 establishments in France Category:Malian pop music groups Category:Malian rock music groups