Toumani Diabaté (born in Gallé, Mali, on 10 August 1965; died 19 July 2024)… Read Full Bio ↴Toumani Diabaté (born in Gallé, Mali, on 10 August 1965; died 19 July 2024) was a Malian kora player remembered for performing the traditional music of Mali and for being involved in cross-cultural collaborations with flamenco, blues, jazz, and other international styles.

Diabaté was considered by many to be the world's finest kora player. He was a versatile performer, being equally at home with the traditional music of Mali as well as with cross-cultural collaborations with flamenco, blues, jazz, and other international styles. He came from a long family tradition of kora players including his father, Sidiki Diabaté, who recorded the first ever kora album in 1970.

In addition to performing Malian traditional music, Diabaté also performed and recorded in cross-cultural settings. He collaborated with flamenco group Ketama, formed a combined group known as Songhai and releasing two recordings: Songhai I and Songhai II. He also released a memorable album with Kulanjan, bridging the gap between African and African American music in collaboration with the American blues musician Taj Mahal. His MALIcool is another, more unusual but nevertheless successful collaboration with the American jazz trombonist Roswell Rudd.

In 2002 Diabaté released the album New Ancient Strings, a collaboration with Ballake Sissoko and in September 2005, he released In The Heart Of The Moon, for which he collaborated with Ali Farka Touré. On 25 July 2006 he released his latest album Boulevard de l'Independence, recorded with his Symmetric Orchestra.

He appeared in 2006 at the Roskilde Festival in Denmark, and at the Sziget Festival in Budapest, Hungary. In 2007, he performed at the Glastonbury Festival and toured the US. In 2008, he was at WOMADelaide in Adelaide, Australia.

In early 2008, Diabaté released a new album of solo kora music, "The Mandé Variations".

In February 2016, Diabaté hosted Festival Acoustik Bamako, a three-day music festival to bring together international and Malian musicians, along with other public figures, with an overall message of peace.

Toumani Diabaté Lyrics