Mama Sana

Mama Sana plays the valiha, a zither-type instrument that is unique to Madascar. She sings and plays traditional Malagasy music with infectious enthusiasm, in a manner similar to some African griots; her casual spontaneity could also evoke comparisons with Joseph Spence. She was already a senior citizen when she made her recording debut, The Legendary Mama Sana, as a result of guitarists Henry Kaiser and David Lindley's projects in Madagascar in the early '90s.