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Toumani Diabaté

{{Short description|Malian musician (1965–2024)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2024}}

{{Infobox musical artist

| background = person

| name = Toumani Diabaté

| image = Toumani Diabaté.jpg

| alt = Toumani Diabaté wearing a dark blue African outfit, holding a kora, sitting on a chair onstage and speaking into a microphone

| caption = Diabaté and his kora in 2007

| image_size =

| birth_name =

| alias =

| birth_date = {{birth date|1965|8|10|df=y}}

| birth_place = Bamako, Mali

| origin = Gallé, Mali[http://mandestudies.org/wp-content/uploads/newsletters/MANSA-Newsletter-33.pdf MANSA Newsletter] Number 33, Winter 1996.

| death_date = {{death date and age|2024|7|19|1965|8|10|df=y}}

| instrument = Kora

| death_place = Bamako, Mali

| genre = {{hlist|Music of Mali|pop|world music}}

| occupation = Musician

| years_active = 1987–2024

| label = World Circuit

| website =

}}

Toumani Diabaté ({{IPAc-en|,|t|u|'|m|ɑː|,|n|i|_|,|dʒ|ɑː|'|b|ɑː|,|t|eɪ}} {{respell|too|MAH|nee|_|jah|BAH|tay}};{{cite book |last=Bakan |first=Michael B. |author-link=Michael Bakan |year=2012 |title=World Music: Traditions and Transformations |publisher=McGraw Hill |location=New York |isbn=978-0-07-352664-5 |page=194 |quote=Toumani Diabate (Too-MAH-nee Jah-BAH-tay) |url=https://archive.org/details/worldmusictradit0000baka_v1f7 |url-access=registration |via=the Internet Archive}}. 10 August 1965 – 19 July 2024) was a Malian kora player. In addition to performing the traditional music of Mali, he was involved in cross-cultural collaborations with flamenco, blues, jazz, and other international styles of music. In 2006, the London-based newspaper The Independent named him one of the fifty best African artists.{{cite web |last1=Maal |first1=Baaba |author1-link=Baaba Maal |last2=Ankomah |first2=Owusu |author2-link=Owusu-Ankomah |last3=Birrell |first3=Ian |author3-link=Ian Birrell |last4=Busby |first4=Margaret |author4-link=Margaret Busby |last5=Casely-Hayford |first5=Augustus |author5-link=Gus Casely-Hayford |last6=Holt |first6=Thelma |author6-link=Thelma Holt |last7=Harding |first7=Frances |last8=Maqoma |first8=Gregory |last9=Shiri |first9=Keith |author9-link=Keith Shiri |date=1 December 2006 |title=Art of Africa: The 50 best African artists |newspaper=The Independent |publisher=Independent News & Media |location=London |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/art-of-africa-the-50-best-african-artists-426441.html |url-access=registration |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080424021149/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/art-of-africa-the-50-best-african-artists-426441.html |archive-date=24 April 2008 |access-date=13 May 2022}} In its obituary, The Times described him as "a bold and innovative musical visionary".{{cite web |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/obituaries/article/toumani-diabate-wpdlswjd5 |title= The Times Register Obituary Toumani Diabaté, Malian master of the kora |date=26 July 2024 |work=The Times |access-date=26 July 2024 }}

Biography

Diabaté was born on 10 August 1965{{Cite web |last=Denis |first=Jacques |title=Mort de Toumani Diabaté, la kora perd son maître |url=https://www.liberation.fr/culture/musique/mort-de-toumani-diabate-la-kora-perd-son-maitre-20240720_WA6HPZHGTZDARDJLB3BJFTKTHE/|date=20 July 2024 |access-date=20 July 2024 |website=Libération |language=fr}} in Bamako, the capital of Mali, five years after the country had gained its independence from France. He came from a long family tradition of players of the kora, a 21-string west African harp-like instrument. His father, Sidiki Diabaté, recorded the first-ever kora album, in 1970.{{cite book|title=The Virgin Encyclopedia of Nineties Music|editor=Colin Larkin|editor-link=Colin Larkin (writer)|publisher=Virgin Books|date=2000|edition=First|isbn=0-7535-0427-8|page=121}} His mother, Nene Koita, was a singer. His family's oral tradition tells of 70 generations of musicians preceding him in a patrilineal line. His cousin Sona Jobarteh was the first female professional kora player to come from a griot family. His younger brother Mamadou Sidiki Diabaté is also a kora player. According to Diabaté, a childhood illness resulted in his losing the use of his right leg, and he walked using a crutch.{{Cite news |last=Curiel |first=Jonathan |authorlink= Jonathan Curiel|date=3 November 2008 |title=Toumani Diabate's music transcends borders |url=https://www.sfgate.com/music/article/toumani-diabate-s-music-transcends-borders-3187060.php |access-date=20 October 2023}}{{Cite news |last=Pitman |first=Todd |date=15 January 2007 |title=Guarding Kora Tradition |work=The Associated Press |url=https://www.theledger.com/story/news/2007/01/15/guarding-kora-tradition/25825538007/ |access-date=20 October 2023}}

As a boy, Diabaté absorbed the griot culture around him and learned from watching his father and grandfather play. He recalled that his father's style involved combining the functions of bass line, melody, and improvisation, and Diabaté learned to play the kora that way. He was performing in public by the age of 13 and became one of the musicians in the backing group of jelimuso (female griot singer) Kandia Kouyaté.

In 1987, Diabaté made an appearance on Ba Togoma, an album featuring his father's ensemble. This was his opportunity to be heard outside his homeland. In 1988, he released his first album in the West, a solo endeavour entitled Kaira, recorded in one afternoon in London and produced by Lucy Durán.

Diabaté also performed and recorded in cross-cultural settings. He collaborated with flamenco group Ketama, forming a combined group known as Songhai and releasing two recordings: Songhai I and Songhai II. In 1999, Diabaté collaborated with American blues musician Taj Mahal on the release Kulanjan. MALIcool (2002) was a collaboration with American jazz trombonist Roswell Rudd. Diabaté also worked with Icelandic musician Björk on her 2007 album, Volta, and subsequently appeared with her at the Glastonbury Festival.{{cite web|url= https://www.womex.com/virtual/odaras_productions/toumani_diabate |title=Toumani Diabaté |publisher=WOMEX|access-date=20 July 2024}}

In 1999, Diabaté released the album New Ancient Strings, a collaboration with Ballaké Sissoko. In September 2005, he released In the Heart of the Moon, for which he collaborated with Ali Farka Touré. The album went on to win the 2006 Grammy Award for Best Traditional World Music Album. On 25 July 2006, he released Boulevard de l'Indépendance, recorded with his Symmetric Orchestra. In the Heart of the Moon and Boulevard de l'Indépendance are both part of the Hotel Mandé Sessions, recorded by Nick Gold and released on World Circuit Records. Both Boulevard and Hotel Mandé are references to landmarks in Mali's capital city, Bamako.{{cite web|url=https://worldmusiccentral.org/2006/07/22/north-american-release-of-toumani-diabates-symmetric-orchestra-boulevard-de-l-independence/|title=North American Release of Toumani Diabaté's Symmetric Orchestra Boulevard de l'independence|date=22 July 2006 |publisher=Worldmusiccentral.org|access-date=20 July 2024}}

The Symmetric Orchestra, led by Diabaté, is composed of West African musicians (mostly griots),{{cite web |url=http://www.rfimusique.com/musiqueen/articles/076/article_7719.asp |title=Malian Music – Toumani Diabaté |publisher=RFI Musique |date=7 April 2006 |access-date=25 June 2007 |author=Chabasseur, Eglantine |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930023843/http://www.rfimusique.com/musiqueen/articles/076/article_7719.asp |archive-date=30 September 2007 }} who play a mix of traditional instruments including the kora, djembe, balafon, and bolombatto, as well as modern ones such as the guitar and electronic keyboard.{{Cite news |date=16 April 2009 |title=Pop Listings |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/17/arts/music/17pop.html |access-date=20 July 2024 |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331}}

Diabaté appeared in 2006 at the WOMAD Festival UK, 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.[http://www.womadelaide.com.au/line_up/artists_az/toumani.html WOMADelaide]{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, site accessed 11 March 2008 In early 2008, Diabaté released a new album of solo kora music, The Mandé Variations, to widespread critical acclaim, including a nomination for a Grammy award. Many reviewers praised the project for its detailed recording of the kora and careful mastering, in addition to the improvisational skills and wide range of apparent influences on display.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/release/d5xm/ |work=BBC Music |title=World Review – Toumani Diabaté, Mandé Variations |publisher=BBC |date=20 February 2008 |author=Lusk, Jon}}

In October 2008, the Arabic-language lyrics in Diabaté's song "Tapha Niang" (from Boulevard de l'Indépendance) were removed from the PlayStation 3 video game LittleBigPlanet, after it elicited objections from a Muslim individual due to their inclusion of verses from the Qur'an.{{cite web |url=http://videogames.yahoo.com/feature/religious-outcry-sparks-littlebigrecall/1257227 |work=Yahoo! Games |title=Religious outcry sparks LittleBigRecall |author=Smith, Mike |publisher=Yahoo Inc |date=17 October 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081023221037/http://videogames.yahoo.com/feature/religious-outcry-sparks-littlebigrecall/1257227 |archive-date=23 October 2008 }} The publisher, Sony Computer Entertainment Europe, decided to delay the launch of the game by a week and recall most discs in order to replace the song with a lyric-free instrumental version. However, some copies of the original game had already been sold in the Middle East and United States.{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7679151.stm |work=BBC News |title=Game delayed over Koran phrases |date=20 October 2008 |publisher=BBC}}

In December 2008, Diabaté was appointed a United Nations Goodwill Ambassador for the work he did in highlighting HIV and AIDS through his music.

Diabaté was chosen by Matt Groening to perform at the English All Tomorrow's Parties festival in May 2010. He also performed at Hay Festival in June. In July, he played at the Larmer Tree Festival.{{cite web|url= https://www.salisburyjournal.co.uk/leisure/entertainments/8287746.larmer-tree-spectacular/ |title=Larmer Tree spectacular|date=22 July 2010 |website=Salisbury Journal |access-date=20 July 2024}}

In March 2014, he received an honorary doctorate in music from SOAS for his contribution in raising awareness of the kora and traditional Malian music.

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. It was planned as a collection of outdoor and indoor music events to draw crowds of more than 20,000 people. The 2015 Bamako hotel attack meant that all the outdoor events were cancelled, however.Broughton, Simon (2 February 2016), [https://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2016/feb/02/festival-acoustik-bamako-diabate-albarn-and-the-first-lady-party-for-mali "Damon Albarn: 'Mali's music is an inspiration for me – that's why I've been here so many times{{'"}}], The Guardian.

Diabaté died after a short illness on 19 July 2024, at the age of 58.{{cite web|title=Nécrologie : l'artiste Toumani Diabaté est décédé à l'âge de 58 ans |url=https://www.journaldumali.com/necrologie-lartiste-toumani-diabate-est-decede-a-lage-de-58-ans/ |website=journaldumali.com |date=19 July 2024 |access-date=20 July 2024 |language=fr |trans-title=Obituary: musician Toumani Diabaté dead at the age of 58}}{{Cite web |last=AfricaNews |date=20 July 2024 |title=Mali's 'king of kora' Toumani Diabate dies at 58 |url=https://www.africanews.com/2024/07/20/malis-king-of-kora-toumani-diabate-dies-at-58/ |access-date=21 July 2024 |website=Africanews}}{{Cite web |last=Presse |first=AFP-Agence France |title=Malian Music Star Toumani Diabate Dies After Short Illness |url=https://www.barrons.com/news/malian-music-star-toumani-diabate-dies-after-short-illness-3c749207 |access-date=21 July 2024 |website=barrons.com}} He was survived by his wives, Fanta Sacko and Sira Diallo, and his sons Balla and Sidiki, with whom he had recorded a Grammy-nominated album of kora duets in 2014.

Discography

Image:diabate.jpg

  • Kaira (1988){{Cite web |title=Toumani Diabaté |url=https://africanmusiclibrary.org/artist/Toumani%20Diabat%C3%A9 |access-date=22 July 2024 |website=African Music Library}}
  • Songhai (with Ketama and Danny Thompson) (1988)
  • Shake the Whole World (with Symmetric Orchestra) (1992){{Cite web |title=BBC – Awards for World Music 2008 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/radio3/worldmusic/a4wm2008/2008_toumani_diabate.shtml |access-date=22 July 2024 |website=BBC}}
  • Songhai 2 (with Ketama, Danny Thompson, and José Soto) (1994)
  • Djelika (1995)
  • New Ancient Strings (with Ballaké Sissoko) (1999){{Cite web |last=Kleen |first=Lucas |date=20 July 2023 |title=New Ancient Strings, a modern classic |url=https://pan-african-music.com/en/new-ancient-strings-un-classique-plus-que-moderne/ |access-date=22 July 2024 |website=PAM – Pan African Music}}
  • Kulanjan (with Taj Mahal) (1999)
  • Malicool (with Roswell Rudd) (2002)
  • In the Heart of the Moon (with Ali Farka Touré) (2005)
  • The Mandé Variations (2008){{Cite web |last=Lusk |first=Jon |title=BBC – Music – Review of Toumani Diabaté – Mandé Variations |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/d5xm/ |access-date=22 July 2024 |website=BBC}}
  • Ali and Toumani – (with Ali Farka Touré) (2010)
  • Symphonie Mandingue – Live (2011)
  • A Curva da Cintura (with Arnaldo Antunes and Edgard Scandurra) (2011)
  • Toumani & Sidiki (with Sidiki Diabaté Jr.) (2014)
  • Lamomali (with -M- and Sidiki Diabaté) (2017)
  • The Ripple Effect (with Béla Fleck) (2020){{Cite web |last=Embley |first=Jochan |date=15 April 2020 |title=WFH album of the week: The Ripple Effect by Béla Fleck/Toumani Diabate |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/music/working-from-home-album-of-the-week-the-ripple-effect-bela-fleck-toumani-diabate-a4415161.html |access-date=22 July 2024 |website=Evening Standard}}
  • Kôrôlén (with the London Symphony Orchestra) (2021)
  • Toumani, Family & Friends (2022){{Cite web |last=Honigmann |first=David |title=Kayhan Kalhor and Toumani Diabaté: The Sky Is the Same Colour Everywhere – two virtuosos collaborate |url=https://www.ft.com/content/4f0fc84a-db1d-441e-9bff-afa24cbe993f|date=4 May 2023 |access-date=22 July 2024 |website=Financial Times}}
  • The Sky Is the Same Colour Everywhere (with Kayhan Kalhor) (2023)

Filmography

  • Bamako Is a Miracle by Maurice Engler, Arnaud Robert, and Samuel Chalard (Afro Blue, Geneva, 2003).{{cite web|url=https://chicagoreader.com/film/bamako-is-a-miracle/|title=Bamako is a Miracle|date=17 December 2004 |first=Peter |last=Margasak|website=Chicago Reader|access-date=20 July 2024}}
  • Toumani Diabaté – Koraklänge aus dem Land der Flusspferde by Martina Pfaff (WDR, Cologne, 2007).{{cite web|url=https://filmfreeway.com/Click-clicktick-tick|title=Click-click, tick-tick|publisher=Film Freeway|access-date=20 July 2024}}

References

{{Reflist|30em}}

External links

{{Commons category}}

  • [https://odarasprod.com/artist/toumani-diabate/ Toumani Diabaté] at Odaras Productions
  • [http://www.worldcircuit.co.uk/#Toumani_Diabate::Biography Official Toumani Diabaté biography]
  • [https://web.archive.org/web/20071010053436/http://www.afropop.org/explore/photoFeature.php?ID=11 Afropop Worldwide Slideshow of Toumani Diabate Performing Live in Brooklyn] (July 2007)
  • [http://tpitman.blogspot.com/2007/08/kora-star.html The Kora Star] (August 2007)
  • [https://www.theguardian.com/music/2008/oct/17/worldmusic 'Our music is older than Bach'] – Interview in The Guardian (October 2008)
  • [http://www.coraconnection.com/pages/Toumani.html Information on the kora & Toumani Diabaté]
  • [http://www.folkradio.co.uk/2010/03/ali-toumani-review-plus-interview-with-toumani-diabate-free-download/ Ali and Toumani Review and interview with Tounami Diabaté]|, Folk Radio UK
  • [http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/oneonone/2011/07/201171310516267326.html One on One – Toumani Diabate]. Al Jazeera
  • {{discogs artist|Toumani Diabaté}}
  • {{imdb name|2826650}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Diabate, Toumani}}

Category:1965 births

Category:2024 deaths

Category:21st-century Malian people

Category:Grammy Award winners

Category:Malian Kora players

Category:Malian Muslims

Category:Musicians from Bamako

Category:World Circuit (record label) artists