Hailing from the region of Macina, Mali, Zoumana Tereta (Zou for short) worked for years as a truck driver, travelling throughout Mali and Côte d'Ivoire with his violin, the "So Kou" ('horse's tail') until he decided to devote his time to and live off his music. Since then, he has played and recorded with Saly Sidibé, and performed with Ténin Djini Damba, the Sidibé sisters, Hawa Koni, Maï Koné, Oumou Sangaré and Fantani Touré. A member of the Badema National and the Ensemble Instrumental du Mali, he has also adapted "So Kou" to the world of rap with the Zion B's, and recorded numerous film soundtracks. Today, Zoumana Téréta is considered as one of Mali's master violinists. "Niger blues" is his first album.