by Anura Guruge
on July 21, 2024
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.
