Fatoumata Diawara
Sensual, emotive, spirited and poignant — all four words describe Fatoumata Diawara’s music to the tee. A native of Ivory Coast, Diawara’s life is filled with interesting tidbits; profiled by The Guardian, Diawara began as a child actress at age 9, culminating in a few feature films (including Dani Kouyata’s Sia, le rêve du python) as well as leaving to France to join the theatre company Royale de Luxe. Ultimately, the talent found her calling within music, calling it “a medicine.” It is within this music, inspired by traditional Wassoulou music of her childhood, which Diawara found her calling, and if the talent and passion that radiates from her voice with each new song is any hint, it is a calling that is a perfect fit.
Diawara’s voice is the highlight of her performances and it shines through her band’s instrumentation; the simplicity of the composition allows the music and voice to blend into one spectacular force. Fatoumata Diawara will be a great musical talent that will wow her audience when she takes the Schimmel stage on September 28.
See the videos of Diawara’s performing following the break and you will be wooed by her charm and her voice as much as many others have already been.