Music from Mali: Cheick Hamala + Friends

DC’s resident griot, Cheick Hamala Diabaté is The Real Deal: a storyteller, poet, historian, and – dare we say – rock ‘n’ roll star straight from Mali. With the griot tradition firmly nestled in his family tree – his cousin is kora virtuoso Toumani Diabate; and his uncle is Djelimady Tounkara, legendary guitarist for the Super Rail Band – his music evokes wisdom from the elders while maintaining an infectious beat, ideal for dancing.

Cheick is often joined by an assortment of special guests – from dancers and percussionists to vocalists and hip hop artists – every second Thursday of the month. Play your cards right, and you just might catch him on a night when his nephew joins him, complete with his balafon, a large, traditional idiophone akin to the xylophone!

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