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Biography
Prince Diabaté hails from a prominent, Malinké family
from Guinea, West Africa. He learned his art from his father, Djéli
Sori Diabaté. Breaking with tradition, his father also taught
Prince's mother, Hadja Djéli Sira Cissoko, to play kora. The
young boy became an exceptionally early starter by accompanying his
parents to their concerts throughout West Africa. Despite his father's
disapproval, he decided to make music his life. When he was eight years
old, former Guinean President, Sekou Touré, came to his home
town, Kindia, for a celebration in Independence Square. Braving the
outraged soldiers and his own fear, the young musician grasped his kora,
threw himself at the President's feet and played a special song for
him. Greatly touched by his skill and audacity, Sekou Touré became
his benefactor, enrolling him into the National Children's Theatre in
Conakry. At sixteen years of age, he won first prize in an international
kora competition in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, and acquired his nickname,
'Prince Diabaté, Prince of the Kora.'
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In 1986 he met the singer, Amara Sanoh, and the two started
to perform together. They disbanded in 1998. A world class musician,
Prince Diabaté has toured in Africa, Europe, Canada and the US,
developing a distinctive style, characterised by a lightning-quick,
percussive technique coupled with a dynamic stage presence. He has released
three CDs: Lamaranaa (Buda Musique/Allegro) in 1993, awarded
a four star rating, New Life (Sunrise Records/Orchard) in 2001,
which features guest artists Michael Brook and Hassan Hakmoun. His latest
album, Djerelon (Kora Company Collection) was recorded in Guinea,
Conakry in 2006. It is arranged and produced by Kante Manfila, longtime
collaborator of Salif Keita.The album won the People's Choice Awards
(Vox Populi) in the Independent Music Awards for 2007: World Music (Traditional)
category. Lamaranaa and New Life are available as digital
downloads with Virgin France and Djerelon is available through
Itunes.
Considered to be one of the leading kora players of his generation,
Prince Diabaté brings not only total mastery over his ancestral
tradition, but a commitment to renew it through fresh ideas and exchanges
with musicians from many cultures. His collaborations have included
artists and groups as diverse as The New Mexico Symphony Orchestra,
Adam del Monte (Flamenco) Hassan Hakmoun (Gnawa) and Grammy winners
Michael Brook (guitarist-producer-composer) and Ozomatli (Hip-Hop fusion.)
Moving easily between the traditions of Manden music and modern fusion,
Prince Diabaté has incorporated reggae, rap and blues into his
work punctuated by the occasional, funky use of the wah-wah pedal. Recently,
he has adapted the music of the Wassolou to his repertoire, which he
plays, self-taught and kora-style, on the kamelen n'goni. The result
is entirely his own: a fresh, powerful brand of twenty-first century
Manden music, which remains strongly rooted in traditional codes and
references.
In 2000, he was creative consultant and lead performer on an IBM commercial
for the Olympic Games in Sydney. In 2001, he recorded with Ozomatli
on Embrace The Chaos, their Grammy-winning CD. In 2002, he was a nominee
for the LA Weekly Music Awards and the New Times Music Awards. He is
also a finalist in the International Acoustic Music Awards for 2004;the
Unisong Contest for 2005-2006; the International Songwriting Contest
for 2004 and 2005; and is a first place winner in the 2005 and 2006
Pacific Songwriting Competition.
These
days Prince Diabate is often on the move, performing with his groups
based in Paris, Los Angeles, Montreal and New York and he returns frequently
to Guinea. His work has attracted grants from Arts International; Alliance
for California Traditional Arts; Los Angeles County Arts Commission,
Los Angeles Cultural Affairs Department and the Durfee Foundation. Prince
Diabate also maintains an active schedule as a lecturer on aspects of
Mandinka music. His clients to date include colleges and universities
in California, Washington State and New York.
Prince Diabate spent the winter of 2007-2008 in Guinea, researching
ideas for his next album.
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