Toumani Diabate Tickets

Arts Centre Melbourne and Arts Projects Australia present
Toumani and Sidiki Diabate in Concert
One of the world’s great virtuosos and Grammy Award winner, Toumani Diabate performs duets with his son Sidiki in this extraordinary concert event. 

Toumani Diabate is a celebrated Malian Kora player and one of the most creatively prolific and successful musicians in Africa, described by the Observer as 'one of the world's most pre-eminent musicians in any genre'.

More than any other kora player, Toumani Diabate has brought this unique 21-string West African harp to global attention. Born into an exceptional musical family – 71 continuous generations of kora players – Toumani was a self-taught child prodigy.
His influences are sourced from many cultures – Indian classical music, Spanish flamenco, and radical free jazz. His collaborations are brave and exciting, with bluesman Taj Mahal, Björk, guitar wizard Ali Farka Touré, and Gorillaz/Blur frontman Damon Albarn. He wowed WOMADelaide audiences in 2008, performing with his Symmetric Orchestra, but this year will be joined by his eldest son Sidiki, a griot, master kora player and Hip-Hop star in Mali.

This concert is a series of virtuosic duets in support of their new album Toumani and Sidiki Diabate. The kora is the quietest of instruments but is here played with verve and attack, exquisite intimacy and always with a flowing pulse and groove.
A joyous evening in the company of one of the world’s most captivating musicians, this promises to be an exquisite night of dazzling musicianship.

“A genius of African music, the finest living exponent of the kora.” The Guardian
“The sort of player you only encounter once in a lifetime.' BBC Radio