About Us

Habib Dembélé

He is widely known as Guimba National, the writer, director, actor, who has always been the voice of his fellow Malians irrespective of their background or location.

Habib Dembélé is from San, Ségou region. He is the great-grandson of El Hadj Adama Dembélé, known as Koula Ladji, a Muslim scholar and emblematic figure of the Bobo Insurrection which was quickly joined by their neighbours the Dafing and which peaked on April 19th 1916.

On the same date, 46 years later, Habib Dembélé was born.

Habib Dembélé's family home, was a madrassa open to all. He slept on mats on the floor with 300 other children. He thus grew up with the humility and modesty of heart and with a strong sense of respect of others.

Through his travels around the world, he has always carried Mali with him, oozing the most beautiful aspects of the country.

Inside the work of this artist, there is Habib Dembélé, the citizen, whose creations and performances have, over three decades solely focused on human beings, African people and especially the men, women and children of Mali.

Habib Dembélé could not have worked otherwise; he is totally imbued with Mali. To dissociate him from his country would be impossible. He has never departed from the values transmitted to him and which are now part of his being.

More than that, each of his actions demonstrates a deep love for his country and humanity as whole.