If you haven’t yet heard the music of Fatoumata Diawara, you have something to look forward to.
Fatoumata Diawara, or Fatou as she’s commonly called, is a 28-year-old musician from West Africa who recently released her debut album, Fatou. Her voice is sensual and intimate and her performances are confident and seductive. Here she is in the video for “Kanou,” from the album.
Fatou is quickly building her musical resume, singing, dancing and touring with some heavyweights of West African music. She sang background on Oumou Sangaré’s Grammy nominated album, Seya. She also contributes vocals for the super group AfroCubism. And speaking of having talented friends, honey-voiced Rokia Traore is the one who persuaded Fatou to learn to play the guitar.
The path Fatou has traveled to become the performer she is today is filled with drama. Born in Ivory Coast, to Malian parents, she grew up dancing in her father’s troupe. Performing clearly comes naturally, but so does a strong sense of self. At the age of 12, her folks sent the headstrong young woman to Bamako to live with her aunt, an actress. Immersion in the world of theatre and film soon brought fame and opportunity.
A French director offered Fatou an exciting roll in a new production in France, but her family had a more traditional future in mind for her. They wanted her to give up acting and get married. Even at the age of 20, as an unmarried woman Fatou was considered a minor and was unable to accept the job in France without her family’s permission. The daring Fatou fled the country, secretly hopping on a plane to France, but not without the pursuit of the police — who were told by her family that she had been “kidnapped.”
Fatou worked hard in France performing a variety of roles. A director heard her singing to herself backstage and was impressed by her beautiful voice. Soon she was singing as part of her theatre performances, and performing in Parisian clubs when not in the theatres. Music quickly became her consuming passion. Her debut album showcases both her hard work and immense talent. Hopefully we’ll see her on a stage in Canada soon. Meanwhile, here she is performing “Bissa.”