Mamadou Diabate, Reviews

Mamadou Diabate has been awarded 'World Music Artist Of The Year' from the American Folk Alliance (2007)

What the press is saying about Tunga:

"'Tunga' shows off Diabate's mastery... will no doubt send fans of the multi-stringed, harp-sounding kora into pure ecstacy." -CMJ New Music Report

"...sparkling technique... compelling rhythmic groove... flair for making this ancient instrument sound as though it was invented yesterday... Tunga is a promising debut from a creative young musician." -RootsWorld

"...African and African-American genres together... the most successful blending yet... Mamadou Diabate just makes brilliant music... beautiful, soulful precision... exceptionally creative..." -Miami New Times

"...a stunningly polished gem... carries the listener on an adventure that is exotic yet somehow familiar... music so listenable and fresh..." -NAPRA Review

"...the debut of Mali's Mamadou Diabate shows an artist with creativity to spare... free flowing rhythmic and melodic complexity." (4 stars) -Tower Record's Pulse!

"Recent CD's like From Mali to Memphis and Kulanjan have emphasized the continuity between Manding traditional music and American Blues. But none have made the connection as sublimely as Mamadou Diabate's Tunga."... "The players weave their magic so tightly, it took me a couple of listens to separate the rapid kora and ngoni exchanges. Even when the round and woody tones of the balafon join in, the group plays with the telepathy of a single large instrument... virtuosity is taken for granted from a kora player named Diabate, but even more than his famous cousin Toumani, Mamadou gently pushes the edge with his beautiful, soulful precision." Bob Tarte,-The Beat

"As a debut recording, "Tunga" has set a high standard, drawing on the richness of West African culture while reaching forward to explore new terrain." -Dirty Linen

"Diabate never lets his flying fingers get in the way of the melody. He's a master at marrying the music of several different cultures Sigma. This disc is a musical adventure in the best sense of the word." Bob McMullough, The Boston Globe

This debut from a young Malian now living in the US puts all kora players on notice with its vitality, scope, and shimmering musicianship. Banning Eyre-Boston Phoenix

The ensemble is tight, the music is soulful, and while Tunga has one foot in the past, it also looks forward to a bright future. -The Beat

For Diabate, the success is the fulfillment of dagna, a word meaning destiny. It is also the name of the leading track to his 2000 debut, which features a lilting swing rhythm. Judging from his success with bringing scores of new jeli musicians to the form, it seems clear what Diabates dagna is. Jeli means union and honey, we want to connect people, and then, with music, make that union sweet. -St. Paul Pioneer Press

Get your copy at a kora concert or order it from Cora Connection