Abdoulaye Diabaté is a singer and guitarist who was born to Griot

Griot

A griot or jeli is a West African storyteller. The griot delivers history as a poet, praise singer, and wandering musician. The griot is a repository of oral tradition. As such, they are sometimes also called bards...

 family in Kela, Mali

Mali

Mali , officially the Republic of Mali , is a landlocked country in Western Africa. Mali borders Algeria on the north, Niger on the east, Burkina Faso and the Côte d'Ivoire on the south, Guinea on the south-west, and Senegal and Mauritania on the west. Its size is just over 1,240,000 km² with...

 in 1956. He has at least twenty years of experience in contemporary and popular music.

Life

Abdoulaye Diabaté was raised in the Mande

Mande

Mande may refer to:* Mandé peoples of western Africa* Mande languages* Manding, a term covering a subgroup of Mande peoples, and sometimes used for one of them, Mandinka* Garo people of northeastern India and northern Bangladesh...

 tradition to a djali family (traditional musicians and story tellers). His brother Kasse Mady has achieved worldwide fame and his sister Mama Diabate is a great star in Guinea. At age 18, having developed into a formidable singer and guitarist he left his village. He joined Tenetemba Jazz in Bemako, the capital of Mali

Mali

Mali , officially the Republic of Mali , is a landlocked country in Western Africa. Mali borders Algeria on the north, Niger on the east, Burkina Faso and the Côte d'Ivoire on the south, Guinea on the south-west, and Senegal and Mauritania on the west. Its size is just over 1,240,000 km² with...

. In 1975, he moved to Abidjan in Ivory Coast where he formed his own band called Super Mande. Super Mande became one of the foremost ensembles in the capital performing all over the country. At times, some now most famous West African stars such as Salif Keita, Mory Kante and Ousmane Kouyate joined the group for performances. The career of Super Mande culminated with the release of their album "Wahabiadashi" which was eventually banned from airplay because the title track criticized hypocritical Marabouts (religious leaders). In the early nineties, Diabate was recruited as a star singer in the world renowned "Ballet Koteba" led by Souleymane Koli to replace Sekou Camara "Cobra" after his death; and also as rhythm-guitarist with the "Go de Koteba" the world famous women group. He toured the world with these ensemble for several years. In 1996, he relocated in New York City. He has since taken part in many cultural events as leader of the re-formed Super Mande group and with many collaborations with artists such as jazzman Don Byron, Peter Apfelbaum, Sean Noonan, and the groups Source and Fula Flute Ensemble.

Religious interest

Abdoulaye Diabate is a devout Muslim. Any reference to his being involved with the Raelian movement are erroneous. The name "Abdoulaye Diabate" is relatively common in West Africa.

Discography

"Brewed By Noon" (2007) By Sean Noonan

"Samory" (2006)

"Tonight's African Jazz Band" (2006) by Source w/ Abdoulaye Diabate

Haklima (2005)

1. Haklima
2. Sinikan
3. Nama
4. Wunafaki
5. Kobaragna
6. Fasoka
7. Mososroni
8. Djougouya
9. Babani
10. Iloyoro

"IT IS WRITTEN" (2005) BY Peter Apfelbaum & the New York Hieroglyphics

"MANDEN JALIYA IN NEW YORK CITY" (2002) Smithsonian Folkways compilation (contains several tracks by Super Manden)

"WAHABIADACHI" by Super Mande

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