Who Won the U.S. Presidential Debate?

Diabaté was widely recognised as the greatest kora musician of his generation. His effortless, calm and dignified strumming of the kora to produce enchanting and blues-like sounds that stay with the listener long after his performance was unrivalled.

I was shocked to learn of the passing on 19 July of the maestro of kora music, the Malian, Toumani Diabaté. He was only 58! There are many great kora musicians, such as Sona Jorbateh, Ballaké Sisoko, Sékou Keita and Jeli Moussa Djawara. Many will agree, however, that Toumani Djiabate was a towering figure among them.

Diabaté was widely recognised as the greatest kora musician of his generation. His effortless, calm and dignified strumming of the kora to produce enchanting and blues-like sounds that stay with the listener long after his performance was unrivalled.

Diabaté was a prolific creator of music, with 20 or more critically acclaimed albums and countless singles in his repertoire. These will continue to entertain his fans and sustain his legacy.

His In the Heart of the Moon album of 2005, in which he collaborated with the late musical supremo, Ali Farka Touré, arguably Mali’s most gifted musician and credited to have demonstrated that African-American blues music originated from West Africa, won the 2006 Grammy Award for the “Best Traditional World Music Album.”

• Read More