Momo Wandel Soumah, born on January 1, 1926, in Labé, Guinea, was a singer, composer, and saxophonist known for his characteristic gravelly voice and unique saxophone style. He began his musical journey playing in dance orchestras during the 1950s before transitioning to modern Guinean music in the post-revolutionary period. In the mid-1980s, Soumah blended jazz with traditional African music, leading to collaborations such as Matchowé (1991) with François Kokelaere and Afro Swing (1999) under Laurent Chevallier's direction. He also contributed to the soundtrack of the film "L'enfant noir" and was featured in the documentary Momo le doyen. Soumah served as the musical director of Circus Baobab at the time of his death on June 15, 2003. His contributions were recognized posthumously with the naming of the Salle de spectacle Momo Wandel Soumah in 2004 and being ranked the second saxophonist in Africa by the BBC after Manu Dibango.
