Tag Archives: Madou Sidiki Diabate

‘Toumani Diabaté, ‘Kora King’, Dies The Day After I Had Seen His Brother ‘Madou Sidiki Diabate’ Perform In ‘Meredith’, N.H.

Leave a reply

by Anura Guruge
on July 21, 2024

Click to ENLARGE. For Wikipedia. For my post yesterday on brother’s performance.

A weird coincidence.

Up until 7:30pm, Thursday, July 19, 2024, I had never heard of a ‘Kora‘ let alone the name ‘Diabate‘.

I was, as you must have worked out by now, blown away by this Kora duet performance. It was incredible.

I, per my wont, did some Googling the next day, i.e., Friday. Then a few hours later this news item pops up on my Google News Feed that ‘Toumani Diabaté‘ had died. I was still not au fait with the name. I had to look it up. Older brother, by 17 years, of the one I saw. [Not sure if they have the same mother.]

Wow.

Right through Thursday night’s performance Mamadou Sidiki Diabaté was mute. He didn’t even mutter a thank you. I wondered if he was really MUTE! I even tried to look it up. I have since learnt that he was aware that his brother was seriously ill during the Thursday night performance. [He only heard about the death Friday lunchtime U.S. Eastern time.]

Wow.

I am glad that I got this introduction to the Kora — from such a storied performer. I sure will try to catch more of his performances IF I can.

‘Kora’ Duets With ‘Madou Sidiki Diabate’ YouTube Videos From ‘Hermit Woods’, ‘Meredith’, N.H.

Leave a reply

by Anura Guruge
on July 20, 2024

Click to ENLARGE.
Click to ENLARGE. Link to their Facebook page.

This was quite the experience. I don’t think I had ever come across the ‘Kora‘ prior to this. I might have heard it without realizing what it was. Quite the instrument, with, of course, an unique and mesmerizing sound. I really had no idea what I was going to, until they started. Took me awhile to get into it, but then I was hooked.

Totally serendipitous as so much in my life.

I had to go to ”Giuseppe’s“, for the 2nd time in 4-days, to get calamari (x4) and a large ‘Pollo Florentine Alfredo’ pizza for my 18-year old daughter (who is not driving as much as she had been doing). One hour round trip. To break it up I looked to see what was happening. Saw this. I was intrigued. The rest is history.

So, so glad I went. Wow. Well, you can experience a bit of it via the above nearly 4-minute long YouTube. I combined 3 separate videos to make that. I am kind of pleased with it.

Madou Diabate did NOT utter a single word during the whole performance. STRANGE. I still haven’t found any videos, online, of him speaking!