11 June 2014
I
wrote here in May 2008 about the Malian kora virtuoso Toumani Diabaté
who represents the 71st generation of a line of griots
that has passed on songs forming the oral history of the Mandé
Empire of West Africa from father to son. Last Thursday I was at The
Stables in Wavendon to see this remarkable hereditary process in
action, as generations 71 and 72 performed together – Toumani
playing kora duets with his son Sidiki Diabaté. Sidiki is already a
star in his own right – a hip hop performer who regular plays to
crowds of 20,000 or more in football stadia in Mali. But he is also a
very accomplished kora player and the interplay between father and
son was fascinating. The 21-string kora is a delicate, mesmerising
instrument but recordings sometimes feel a bit tame compared to the
excitement generated by a live performance. I had been listening to
the new 'Toumani & Sidiki' album but seeing them playing the
pieces at The Stables was a completely different experience. Toumani
is an extraordinary performer – surely one of the greatest
musicians in the world today. The concert ended with a standing
ovation – it was a stunning performance.
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