Toumani Diabaté, a Malian musician who brought West African music to the world, died on Friday at the age of 58 “after a long illness,” his son, Sidiki Diabaté, confirmed. Known for his virtuoso use of the kora, a 21-stringed instrument typical of Africa similar to a harp, Diabaté has been one of the greatest representatives of Malian music in the world, collaborating with Western artists since the beginning of his career.
Born in Bamako, Diabaté came from the lineage of the griot, the West African storytellers, poets and musicians (something like the minstrel in Spain). Diabaté played the kora in innovative ways, mixing it with Western styles, for example on the 1997 album ‘New Ancient Strings’ with Ballaké Sissoko, or in his work with Ali Farka Touré, ‘In the Heart of the Moon’, which won a Grammy in 2006.
From the beginning of his career, Diabaté’s music has been influenced by different cultures. As early as 1988, he released ‘Sanghai’, an album with Ketama, the gypsy flamenco fusion band led by Antonio Carmona. His collaborations with Björk on the 2007 album ‘Volta’ and with the London Symphony Orchestra are also remembered. In 2023, Diabaté’s latest work, ‘The Sky Is the Same Colour Everywhere’, was released.
