Toumani Diabate
b. 10 August 1965, Bamako, Mali. Descended from a long line of musicians, Diabat's father Sidiki was responsible for introducing the kora (a 21-string cross between a lute and a harp) into Mali in the 50s. Toumani took up the kora from a young age and taught himself how to play. He developed a style of playing that, while being strongly rooted in the Malian tradition, was also open to a wide range of other influences (such as jazz and flamenco). He has subsequently sought out other musicians from around the world who are willing to experiment, even performing a concert in Amsterdam with a classical harpist. His 1989 debut Kaira made history as the first ever solo kora album to be released. Stark, haunting and full of breathtaking improvisational flourishes, it made him a star in his homeland and a sought-after performer internationally. In the same year, Songhai, a highly acclaimed collaboration between Diabat and musicians from Spain and Britain, also released an album.
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Albums
Top Tracks
- Djelika
- Jarabi
- Cheick Oumar Bah
- Kaira
- Sankoun Djabi
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