In a rare father-and-son collaboration, Toumani Diabaté, genius of African … Read Full Bio ↴In a rare father-and-son collaboration, Toumani Diabaté, genius of African music and widely recognised as the greatest living kora player, has recorded an album of duets with his son Sidiki, the instrument's emerging star.
Described as "the finest Toumani collaboration since his classic work with Ali Farka Touré" (The Guardian) 'Toumani & Sidiki' is a dialogue conducted through the kora, the 21-string West African harp which the Diabaté dynasty has elevated into the most iconic of African instruments. Father-and-son collaborations are rare enough but the ties binding Toumani and Sidiki Diabaté are particularly profound and evocative. Descended from a line of griots - custodians of the ancient oral traditions of West Africa's Mandé people stretching back seven hundred years - the names Toumani and Sidiki are significant names in the annals of African music.
Toumani's father, Sidiki senior, recorded the first ever kora album, the classic Mali: Ancient Strings, in 1970, unwrapping the instruments potential as a virtuosic lead instrument. His son Toumani has taken it further, weaving together bass lines, ancient melodies and astonishing improvisations to create a kaleidoscope of musical colours. Since recording the first solo kora album in 1988, he has brought the instrument to the world, with albums, tours, GRAMMY awards and collaborations with the likes of Ali Farka Touré, Taj Mahal, Herbie Hancock, Damon Albarn and Bjork. Toumani has also built an impressive array of fans along the way, including President Barack Obama, who chose Toumani's collaboration with Taj Mahal as his all-time favourite album.
Toumani's eldest son Sidiki moves things forward again. In Mali's capital Bamako the 23 year old is a star. Voted Mali's best beat maker in 2013, Sidiki runs his own recording and programming studio and alongside rapper 'Iba One' is one half of the country's premier hip-hop duo, who fill the 20,000 seater Modibo Keita stadium. At the same time he has a deep knowledge of Mande culture and a formidable technique on the kora. "It's a dream to play with my father" he says. "Yes I'm a hip-hop artist, but I love and respect my roots as a kora player, I want to know more. It's my chance to learn directly from my father. It's extra special because my father is my idol."
The album is a set of unaccompanied kora duets, recorded with little rehearsal (and for some songs no rehearsal) as 'live' with no overdubs at RAK studios north London. World Circuit's team of producer Nick Gold and engineer Jerry Boys (Ali Farka Touré, Buena Vista Social Club, Orchestra Baobab) is complemented by co-producer Lucy Duran (producer of Toumani's previous albums). Recorded in stereo Toumani can be heard in the left speaker and Sidiki on the right.
The repertoire is based on a combination of obscure, almost forgotten kora pieces and a new look at some Mande classics from Mali. "We're not going backwards, trying to play just how my father and grandfather did these songs," says Toumani. "We have to do it our way. We're modern griots, we live in the city, we're connected to the world. Speaking of his desire to transmit ancestral repertoire in a contemporary manner Toumani describes the album as "The past meets the present for the future."
The album arrives in the wake of the recent hard-line Islamic insurgency where a ban on music was attempted in the north of Mali. With this album Toumani wanted "to show the positive side of Mali", to reassert the legacy of a country with access to untold musical riches. The songs are named, in griot tradition, to honour various people, places or events.
The playing is extraordinary. There is telepathic communication, the finishing of each other's musical sentences - dazzling musicianship. The kora is the quietest of instruments but is here played with verve and attack, groove, wit, swing and bounce, ecstatic excitement and exquisite intimacy. And always with a flowing pulse and groove. 'Toumani & Sidiki' sounds unlike any other album of kora duets.
Described as "the finest Toumani collaboration since his classic work with Ali Farka Touré" (The Guardian) 'Toumani & Sidiki' is a dialogue conducted through the kora, the 21-string West African harp which the Diabaté dynasty has elevated into the most iconic of African instruments. Father-and-son collaborations are rare enough but the ties binding Toumani and Sidiki Diabaté are particularly profound and evocative. Descended from a line of griots - custodians of the ancient oral traditions of West Africa's Mandé people stretching back seven hundred years - the names Toumani and Sidiki are significant names in the annals of African music.
Toumani's father, Sidiki senior, recorded the first ever kora album, the classic Mali: Ancient Strings, in 1970, unwrapping the instruments potential as a virtuosic lead instrument. His son Toumani has taken it further, weaving together bass lines, ancient melodies and astonishing improvisations to create a kaleidoscope of musical colours. Since recording the first solo kora album in 1988, he has brought the instrument to the world, with albums, tours, GRAMMY awards and collaborations with the likes of Ali Farka Touré, Taj Mahal, Herbie Hancock, Damon Albarn and Bjork. Toumani has also built an impressive array of fans along the way, including President Barack Obama, who chose Toumani's collaboration with Taj Mahal as his all-time favourite album.
Toumani's eldest son Sidiki moves things forward again. In Mali's capital Bamako the 23 year old is a star. Voted Mali's best beat maker in 2013, Sidiki runs his own recording and programming studio and alongside rapper 'Iba One' is one half of the country's premier hip-hop duo, who fill the 20,000 seater Modibo Keita stadium. At the same time he has a deep knowledge of Mande culture and a formidable technique on the kora. "It's a dream to play with my father" he says. "Yes I'm a hip-hop artist, but I love and respect my roots as a kora player, I want to know more. It's my chance to learn directly from my father. It's extra special because my father is my idol."
The album is a set of unaccompanied kora duets, recorded with little rehearsal (and for some songs no rehearsal) as 'live' with no overdubs at RAK studios north London. World Circuit's team of producer Nick Gold and engineer Jerry Boys (Ali Farka Touré, Buena Vista Social Club, Orchestra Baobab) is complemented by co-producer Lucy Duran (producer of Toumani's previous albums). Recorded in stereo Toumani can be heard in the left speaker and Sidiki on the right.
The repertoire is based on a combination of obscure, almost forgotten kora pieces and a new look at some Mande classics from Mali. "We're not going backwards, trying to play just how my father and grandfather did these songs," says Toumani. "We have to do it our way. We're modern griots, we live in the city, we're connected to the world. Speaking of his desire to transmit ancestral repertoire in a contemporary manner Toumani describes the album as "The past meets the present for the future."
The album arrives in the wake of the recent hard-line Islamic insurgency where a ban on music was attempted in the north of Mali. With this album Toumani wanted "to show the positive side of Mali", to reassert the legacy of a country with access to untold musical riches. The songs are named, in griot tradition, to honour various people, places or events.
The playing is extraordinary. There is telepathic communication, the finishing of each other's musical sentences - dazzling musicianship. The kora is the quietest of instruments but is here played with verve and attack, groove, wit, swing and bounce, ecstatic excitement and exquisite intimacy. And always with a flowing pulse and groove. 'Toumani & Sidiki' sounds unlike any other album of kora duets.
Rachid Ouiguini
Toumani Diabaté & Sidiki Diabaté Lyrics
We have lyrics for these tracks by Toumani Diabaté:
Bamako Au bal de Bamako Bal de Bamako Au bal de Bamako Je t'ai…
Queen Bee Sweeter than a honey bee, yeah, baby been sweet on…
Take This Hammer Take this hammer, carry it to the captain Take this hammer,…
We have lyrics for these tracks by Sidiki Diabaté:
Allô allô Diabateba Music Abeka Sonné Abeka Sonné N'ki ka telepho…
Béni Diabatéba musique Jamais an ter malo A être saiguain deh a t…
Bi Kadi Ni Kounouye Diabaté Ba Musique Eh eeh An ban Dia ni kounou ye eeh Eh…
C'est bon ! Diabateba music Tchie par ce que a dan dedo Anw ka Bamako…
Choisie Diabatéba music Afô diabateba music Ne diyangnè diyangnè môg…
Conscience tranquille Yéyé, Diabaté, yéyé Yéyé, (?) Ils veulent m'accuser des cho…
Dakan tigui Toumani Diabaté Sidiki Diabaté Diabateba Music (Namou kalad…
Dieu merci Afo Diabate ba musique Afo Diabate ba musique Ne ne nénéné M…
Dis le moi Diabateba Music Ikanatoro NiTefé Ikana Gnani Gnani De NiTefé…
DOUAOU DJABIRA Diabatéba Music Hamala Niang Jǎ, jɔn tɛ ko dɔ'n i'…
Fais moi confiance A fo: Diabatéba Music Bébé i guèrè na sa Kèlè magni deh,…
Galo Te Me Bolila Diabateba music éé Hamala Niang! Barouba Abdine Yatara! Ouma…
I Love You Diabate bah music Hé hé hé hé hé Ni chou kora niné…
Inianafi Debena Allah dyanièmôgô son tè né djarabi là héhéhéé Djama dyanièmô…
Itimiya diabateba music hey n'e ye diyan3 mogo wa le ni dee ne…
Joyeux anniversaire Music A fô Diabateba music A fô Diabateba music Biyé domba d…
L'enfant béni Nanana Nananana He Puissanci ngo Maliba puissanci O magn da…
Mariage Diabateba Music Yeeeeeah C'est le jour de mon mariage N…
Massaya Diabateba Music Hamala Niang, Barouba Ballaba Diabaté on the…
My love Diabaté ba Music Baby ka na son I ka na son ma Ou…
No cry A fo Diabaté ba music (ze, ze, ze eh) Er be…
Painter les jaloux Diabaté Ba Music On va eppeler le mot paintre P.A.I.N.T.R.E…
Qu'est-ce que je t'ai fait BB Gné moun de kila bébé I doun bagara néma Gné moun de…
Teriya Diabatéba music Anh anh afoo diabatéba music Oun térikai ooh…
Viens danser Afô Diabaté bâ music, ahh Na na na na eh ah…
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
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@stephanediasse-assanvo8834
Toumanie raconte l'histoire sans parler. Comme un tchip divinement mélodieux. Chapeau bas l'artiste.
@danijelamalisic2243
OMG, this is from heaven! thank you!
@frankewanmale4067
This is amazing. Exciting but yet relaxing at the same time. telling of journeys and sunsets, coming from afar. Its beautiful.
@dahlias888
incredibly beautiful and moving! Thank you forever for this blessing.
@farout8369
Sounds like heaven on earth
@sandybro9913
Je ne m'en lasse pas cette musique me procure tellement d'émotions.. Elle est juste divine !
@clementine6580
For now, I will say this is my best track in the album. I so like it! God bless Father and son.
@neilsarath9812
Still your best track.🤔👍
@CMWorldMusic
I like Rachid Ouiguini by Toumani and Sidiki Diabaté. #ToumaniDiabaté #SidikiDiabaté #Diabaté #ToumaniSidiki #WordCircuitRecords #AfricanMusic #AfricanWorldMusic #WorldMusic #Kora #KoraVirtuoso
@-abdalla6934
Heavenly.