Mamadou Diabaté

Mamadou Diabaté was born into a traditional musician family (Sambla people) in Burkina Faso (West Africa), with a long tradition of practising the profession of story telling and music making. At the age of five he started his professional training with his father Penegue Diabaté, who in his days was considered the best balafon player far beyond the borders of the sambla culture.

He currently lives in Austria. With his group Percussion Mania he won the Austrian World Music Award (2011) and the Grand Prix of the “Triangle du Balafon” Competition in Mali (2012). For his virtuosity, he was there also honored with the “Prix Alkaly Camara de la virtuosité”.

The concert features traditional pieces from Burkina Faso, rooted in a rich history and performed for generations, blended with Mamadou’s own compositions, which are inspired by his experiences in Europe. With incredible virtuosity, he plays captivating melodies infused with rhythmic finesse, beautifully complemented by the sound of his voice.

Mamadou Diabaté: Solo Balafon