Music from Mali: Cheick Hamala Diabaté

Washington 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.

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