Fatoumata Diawara on Apr 7, 2024 | UCSB Arts & Lectures

“The Malian artist’s music [is] luminous... she amplifies African rhythms and Wassoulou traditions of storytelling with her deep, commanding voice and unrelenting electric guitars, which rip through her songs like beautiful streaks of lightning.” The New Yorker

“This hugely charismatic singer is at the top of her game.” Evening Standard (U.K.)

Combining thrilling vocals with deft guitar work and a flair for fashion, Fatoumata Diawara is a musical sensation out of West Africa. Singing in Bambara, the language of her native Mali, along with French and English, Diawara delivers biting social commentary and plays stinging electric guitar solos that ride on her band’s sinuous funk-influenced beats. Her latest album, London Ko, was produced by Damon Albarn (Blur, Gorillaz) and reflects a boldly eclectic approach that remains firmly rooted in her heritage.