Kasse Mady Diabate

Kassé Mady’s timeless music is borne out of the West African tradition of the griot, a cultural figure and oral historian whose role is to record cultural identity and knowledge through oratory, lyricism and musicianship. Kasse Mady's family, the Diabates of Kela, were the traditional singers for the emperors and their descendants of the royal Keita lineages. They can trace their role back 700 years and are still considered among the most important and authoritative griot families across the seven West African countries where Mande culture predominates.
Kassé’s fame spread quickly through Mali from a young age, and at 20 he became a singer in the Badema National Orchestra. Throughout the 1970s he played in Malian fusion bands before emigrating to Paris where he recorded his first solo album in 1988. Albums since have included 2003’s Kassi Kasse, recorded in Mali and featuring guest appearances by kora player Toumani Diabate and bass player Orlando Cachaito López (Buena Vista Social Club). He has also guested on albums for Toumani Diabate and Taj Mahal. His solo album Manden Djeli Kan was recorded in France in 2008 and released on Universal in January 2009.

'Kassé Mady sings with the kind of conviction that only comes when an artist feels at home.' John Lusk, BBC Radio 3

We administer music publishing rights for Kasse Mady Diabate worldwide