Frank Bessem's Musiques d'Afrique: Yaya Diallo (Mali)

Musiques d'Afrique Musiques du Mali

Yaya Diallo is a musician, a master percussionist, but also composer, healer, teacher and author of the book The healing Drum: African Wisdom Teachings. Son of a Peul father and a Minianka mother, he grew up with the sound of drums and of the balafon, the instrument frequently played by the Minianka. Thanks to his mother, from the Berthé family (hunters, musicians but also often canton chiefs), he was exposed to the fruits of the musicians from the former Zangasso canton. The musician and healer, Nangapè Koné became his mentor. A scolarship brought Yaya Diallo to Canada in 1967, where he graduated in chemistry in 1973. Although he started a career in chemisty, his interest in traditional music was triggered during a festival in Quebec. In 1976, he returned to music, and he created two groups, Djembe-Kan and Cléba. His debut album, now reissued on CD, reconciles in an exceptional way the flute from his Peul (Fulani) background and the sound of the balafon. Musicians on Nangapè: Yaya Diallo djembe, balafon, dounouba, tama, conga; Sylvain Leroux flute.

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