MAMADOU DIABATE

Mamadou comes from a traditional “Jeli” family of music making and storytelling among the Sambla peoples. His professional music education began at the young age of 5 years old. His virtuosity is outstanding—some people say he would have more than two hands. Explicit techniques allow Mamadou to play exquisite balafon solos which create the impression that three balafonists are playing together.

Since 2001, he has released 13 albums. The album “Keneya” was the world premiere recording of the traditional balafon music of the Sambla people. This music is actually the tonal language of the Sambla people translated into music, a function known as surrogate speech. Musicians who don't comprehend this language are unable to master this instrument.

Today, his unique line up with two balafon lead instruments characterizes Mamadou Diabate & Percussion Mania. That makes the project the only formation of its kind worldwide, different from all other West African bands. Musical dialogs and spectacular balafon duels between Mamadou and his cousin Yacouba Konate are one of the highlights of the show. 

Mamadou Diabate's extraordinary creativity is a never ending stream of musical creations, keeping his important and special culture and music traditions alive. Without a doubt, his virtuosity will continue to enrich our world.

Since 2001 he has released 13CD ́s. The CD “Keneya” is the world premiere recording of the traditional balafon music of the Sambla people. Mamadou's "Balafon language" got recorded at the Dartmouth College where he gets regularly invited for a linguistic residency & lectures program. He collaborated with numerous musicians from various aesthetic and ethnic backgrounds, such as: Cheick Tidiane Seck,Habib Koité, Sigi Finkel, Wolfgang Puschnig and many more. Furthermore, he has given spectacular performances on 4 contintents at prestigious festivals such as Colours of Ostrava (Czech Republic), Global Village Festivals (Denmark), Saalfelden Jazz Festival (Austria), Ingolstadt Jazz Festival (Germany), Ice Music Festival (Norway), Tanz- & Folkfest' of Rudolstadt (Germany), Afrika Festival Wuerzburg (Germany), Global Village Moscow (Russia), Rain Forest Festival (Malaysia), Fleur de Niger (Mali), Sufi Sutra (India) Jazz a Ouaga (Burkina Faso) Triangle du Balafon (Mali)… .

NEW PROJECT (2022): SEENGWA

A special collaboration album - created during the Covid pandemic in 2020.

The project combines jazz, classical, as well as traditional West African and modern music, and is a clear statement to the world that the cultural scene remains alive. SEENGWA unites the almost forgotten musical traditions of the Sambla people in Burkina Faso and connects the music and “talking balafon” with the here and now. A total of 13 top-class musicians and singers take the audience on a rhythmic journey, from tradition to modernity.

Exclusive Seengwa Tour dates available for August and September 2022. The new live program will be with 9-10 musicians on stage: Mamadou Diabate & Percussion Mania together with Malika La Slamazone, a poet from Burkina Faso - joining the “talking Balafon” with her slam poetry and as a vocalist, together with two more singers from Mamadous home country. On special request the renowend jazz musician Wolfgang Puschnig.