Hailed as one of the most vital figures in modern African music, Malian singer-songwriter and guitarist Fatoumata Diawara will be performing at the Royal Festival Hall.

She has worked with include some of the biggest names in contemporary music. She recorded with Bobby Womack and Herbie Hancock; played Glastonbury and other major festivals; and toured with the Cuban pianist Roberto Fonseca. She formed a super group featuring Amadou and Mariam, Oumou Sangaré and Toumani Diabaté to record a song calling for peace in her troubled homeland; and climbed aboard Damon Albarn’s star studded Africa Express, which culminated in her sharing a stage with Sir Paul McCartney

For her performance in the EFG London Jazz Festival she will be performing material from her album Maliba, released this year.

The record is a collaboration with the Google Arts & Culture platform and is a special project commemorating the historic Timbuktu Manuscripts.

Recorded in Fatoumata’s small studio in Bamako, the album is drenched in the authentic rhythms of Wassoulou music.

Supporting Fatoumata is Kadialy Kouyate. Kadialy belongs to the great line of Kouyate griots descendent of Balla Fasseke Kouyate, the first Mandinka jali who became the official griot in the service of the emperor Sundiata Keita in the 13th century. Being brought up in such a family of griots, he played the kora instinctively from an early age. 

He was raised in a large family circle of different generations from whom he acquired a great knowledge of songs based on traditional stories, the bedrock of his repertoire. Since his arrival in the UK, Kadialy has played a significant part in enriching the London musical scene with his griot legacy. He has released several albums, and makes regular radio and television appearances. With his Sound Archive, Kadialy Kouyate draws on his heritage and its traditional songs
to create his own mesmerizing compositions, leading his fantastic band into the West African groove. His new solo instrumental album Aado was released on September 24 on Naxos World, a renowned classical record label.

Jazz FM’s Sarah Ward says:

'I’d hot foot it to The Royal Festival Hall to catch the thrilling Malian singer and songwriter Fatoumata Diawara. She’s a breath-taking performer with challenging and uplifting songs rooted in her cultural legacy. She’ll have you dancing and her lyrical force will leave your head spinning.'