Amadou Balaké

Amadou Traoré (Known as "Balaké")

Legendary Vocalist, Master of Afro-Cuban and Warba Rhythms, Member of Africando

Born 1944-01-01

Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

Passed Away 2014-08-27 Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

Lifespan 70 years old

0 views

Notice / Correction

"Music is the language that makes strangers dance like brothers under the African night sky."

Archival Overview

Pioneering Burkinabé singer whose rich vocal power, blending traditional Mossi Warba dance rhythms with Afro-Cuban salsa and funk ('Taximen', 'Whisky et Coca-Cola'), made him a West African musical legend.

Biographical Record

Amadou Traoré, known throughout West Africa as Amadou Balaké (from the Dioula term for the porcupine), was born in 1944 in Ouagadougou. Beginning his musical apprenticeship in Guinea and Mali, Balaké returned to Upper Volta in the late 1960s, fusing the driving rhythm of Mossi Warba percussion with Latin salsa, funk, and highlife.

His 1970s recordings in Abidjan, Lagos, and New York—such as the smash hits 'Taximen' and 'Super Bar Konon Mousso'—catapulted him to international fame. In 2000, he joined the Pan-African salsa supergroup Africando as lead vocalist, touring world stages and proving the timeless dynamism of Burkinabé popular music.

Memorial Guestbook & Tributes

0 messages recorded

Leave a Respectful Tribute

Select a sentiment or reaction (optional):

Rest in Peace Forever remembered and cherished Your legacy lives on in all of us With deep gratitude for your life and light

Your Name / Title *

Your Email (Private, for anti-abuse)

Tribute Message *

No tributes recorded yet. Be the first to leave a message in honor of Amadou Balaké.

Final Resting Place

Perpetual Memorial

Gounghin Municipal Cemetery
Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

                         GPS: 12.3570, -1.5450                    

View on Memory Atlas

Archival Standards PastLegacies adheres to strict neutral biographical guidelines and legal standards of remembrance. Next-of-kin may request modifications or removal at any time via our expedited process.

Read Governance Policy →