“Life is an experience, life is research. The only real university is the the University of Life.”
Omar Ka, Soruuna (2004)
Roots
The Fulani are the most widespread of all West African peoples. Traditionally cattle herding
nomads, Fulani communities have settled in Cameroon, Niger, Mali, Guinea, Senegal and Nigeria.
Wherever they went, they developed distinctive cultural practices and musical styles.
Omar Ka was born in 1973 in Senegal, though his family roots lie in Niger. His sensitive vocals and
intricate guitar melodies tell instantly of his Nigerian ancestry, while mbalax, reggae and funk beats
ground his music firmly in the bustling streets of Dakar.
Band
The Fula Band – a group of friends and brothers- came together in 1991 to create their unique
brand of Fula music. After four years of intense production and busy touring schedules around
West Africa, Omar Ka headed for Europe in 1996 to prepare the road to international success.
It took another three years before the band embarked on their first European tour. Three years
during which Omar collaborated with a variety of Dutch musicians and featured on various
recordings. In 1997 Omar Ka released his first album, “H.O.W” together with Willem Cramer and
Hanyo van Oosterom. Meanwhile, his band members continued their individual projects in Senegal.
Out of Africa
In 1999, Omar Ka & Fula Band finally reunited to set out on a highly acclaimed tour, which took
them to the stages of Belgium and the Netherlands. Their overwhelming success encouraged them
to record their debut album Mbaaranaabe/Nomad (2000). Nomad got very positive reviews. Since
then, Omar Ka & Fula Band have played on various international festivals. “Desert blues meets
Dakar beat...” wrote the London FRoots magazine about the music of the Fula Band. The lyrics, all
written by Omar Ka, are about the nomad life as Omar knows it from his childhood. The nature and
the quality of the life of the Fulani people is the main theme of his poetical lyrics. Omar Ka & Fula
Band became the group of the month in June 2000 chosen by the Dutch Popunie. The album
Nomad was voted the CD of the week on Radio Rijnmond and the CD of the day by the Dutch daily
Rotterdams Dagblad. The individual tracks were selected for different compilations as DUTCH 2001
– the best world music made in the Netherlands in 2000. The national television (NPS) broadcast a
documentary about Omar Ka in Sptember 2001. TV Rijnmond broadcast another documentary
about Omar Ka in Vernis/Stem in 2002. Omar contributed to different important music projects
such as Music Meeting in Nijmegen (2001) and Made in Holland – a tribute to diversity (2002) and
(2003).
In May 2003, Omar Ka & Fula Band performed during the Night of Tiësto in Arnhem for 25 000
people.
Contact
Dana Macikova
Schiebroekselaan 12a
3037 RM Rotterdam
T +31 (0) 10 4658150
M +31 (0) 6 48084091
