Fatoumata Diawara: Inside the wild world of Mali's bravest voice

In this episode of The African Imaginary Podcast, host Khangi Khoza and musician Fatoumata Diawara dive into making her own stage clothes and the rhythm of the sewing machine, the trance states she calls her madness, fleeing an arranged marriage at nineteen and teaching herself guitar on stage, recording with Herbie Hancock, singing about female genital mutilation and albinism, the anthem she built for Mali in crisis, and more. Read the companion essay on Substack Follow us on Instagram Follow Fatoumata Diawara on Instagram   Fatoumata Diawara is a Malian singer, songwriter, guitarist and actress, born in Côte d'Ivoire to Malian parents. She began as a dancer and film actress before fleeing a forced marriage and touring for six years with the Royal de Luxe theatre company; her 2011 debut Fatou established her as a solo artist blending Wassoulou tradition with folk guitar, followed by Fenfo and London Ko. She has collaborated with Herbie Hancock, Damon Albarn and Gorillaz, Disclosure and -M-, and in 2013 assembled forty Malian musicians for the collective anthem Mali Ko in response to her country's crisis. * The African Imaginary on Linktree Our Website