Kélétigui Diabaté (1931 – 30 November 2012) was a Malian musician, describe… Read Full Bio ↴Kélétigui Diabaté (1931 – 30 November 2012) was a Malian musician, described as an "undisputed master" of the balafon, and as "one of the greatest figures in Malian contemporary music".
Diabaté was born in 1931 into a family of well-known musicians, and learned to play guitar and saxophone as well as the balafon. In the late 1950s, he helped form the Orchestre de la Garde Républicaine (Première Formation), which toured West Africa. He became a founding member, as guitarist, of L'Orchestre National "A" de la République de Mali, also known as Formation A, which was set up at Mali's independence in 1960. An album by the band was belatedly released in Germany in 1970.
He then joined Les Ambassadeurs, the band led after 1972 by singer Salif Keita. He developed his style of playing after performing in concert with American jazz musicians, including vibraphonist Lionel Hampton and singer Ella Fitzgerald, while on a tour of the US in 1978 sponsored by the Rockefeller Foundation, and thereafter often used two balafons together, offset by a semitone.
He reunited with Salif Keita in 1989, performing on Keita's album Ko-Yan, and appeared on albums by many other musicians, including Zap Mama, Ketama and Bonnie Raitt. From 1993, he performed with the Symmetric Orchestra, led by the unrelated kora player Toumani Diabaté. Between 1998 and 2009, he played with guitarist Habib Koité's band Bamada, taking part in the group's touring project with the Art Ensemble of Chicago, The Art Ensemble of Africa. He also recorded his own album, Sandiya, in 2004, with the Belgian label Contre-Jour.
Diabaté died in Bamako in November 2012 at the age of 81.[1] He had been performing until a month before his death.
Diabaté was born in 1931 into a family of well-known musicians, and learned to play guitar and saxophone as well as the balafon. In the late 1950s, he helped form the Orchestre de la Garde Républicaine (Première Formation), which toured West Africa. He became a founding member, as guitarist, of L'Orchestre National "A" de la République de Mali, also known as Formation A, which was set up at Mali's independence in 1960. An album by the band was belatedly released in Germany in 1970.
He then joined Les Ambassadeurs, the band led after 1972 by singer Salif Keita. He developed his style of playing after performing in concert with American jazz musicians, including vibraphonist Lionel Hampton and singer Ella Fitzgerald, while on a tour of the US in 1978 sponsored by the Rockefeller Foundation, and thereafter often used two balafons together, offset by a semitone.
He reunited with Salif Keita in 1989, performing on Keita's album Ko-Yan, and appeared on albums by many other musicians, including Zap Mama, Ketama and Bonnie Raitt. From 1993, he performed with the Symmetric Orchestra, led by the unrelated kora player Toumani Diabaté. Between 1998 and 2009, he played with guitarist Habib Koité's band Bamada, taking part in the group's touring project with the Art Ensemble of Chicago, The Art Ensemble of Africa. He also recorded his own album, Sandiya, in 2004, with the Belgian label Contre-Jour.
Diabaté died in Bamako in November 2012 at the age of 81.[1] He had been performing until a month before his death.
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Koulandian
Kélétigui Diabaté Lyrics
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@ruthdixon7807
having contributed so much to albums made by other musicians, mali's most in-demand player of the balafon calls in a favour or two on his own. gorgeous timeless music. thank you for the memories.
@slowasturtle5704
Rest in Peace my Brother.....Great Artist!!!
@slowasturtle5704
Habib Koite on the Guitar
@legotechnician433
Amo la música de Africa, y casi todos los países, sobre todo los que están al norte desde el Cairo hasta Casablanca. Algún día los recorreré todos, (Egipto, Libia, Argelia, Marruecos, Costa de Marfil, Mali, etc.).
@bloodgrss
Love this............
@ousmanediallo6481
dort en paix kele tu etais le meilleur.
@bloodgrss
'Pour un de perdu, deux de retrouvés." Adieu, rightly honored channel and musical soul...:-)
@olindajvdantas9656
❤
@MrSamojah
paix a ton ame keletigui c'est un plaisir de t'ecouter tout le temps !!!!!!!!!!
@moussacamara6706
Doyen kèlè !