Fatoumata Diawara: A Traditionalist Who Needs to Experiment

Soundcheck | Apr 26, 2018

Some time ago, Malian singer, songwriter, guitarist and actress Fatoumata Diawara did a wonderful and daring thing – inspired by her friend Rokia Traore, she bought an acoustic guitar, and taught herself to play it. Since then, Fatoumata has put out her debut record, Fatou, collaborated with Damon Albarn's Africa Express, and contributed vocals to albums by Cheikh Lô, AfroCubism, and Orchestra Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou. Her forthcoming record, Fenfo translates as “Something to Say”, and she’s here to play some of those new songs, in-studio.

Watch Fatoumata Diawara perform "Fenfo" in-studio:

Fatoumata Diawara: "Don do" | In Studio:

This video for the album’s first single “Nterini,” was directed by Ethiopian photographer and contemporary artist Aïda Muluneh, and filmed in the remote Afar region of Ethiopia, to which archaeologists have traced the origin of humanity.

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