Guitarist and singer Abdoulaye Diabaté (also known as Abdoulaye “Djoss” Diabaté and Djoss Diabaté) was born in Kela, Mali, to the Diabaté family. A clan renowned as battlefield jelis (griots); they would accompany the warriors in battle to recount what took place. They are reputed as powerful vocalists.
Raised in the heart of the Mande tradition, Abdoulaye spent two decades performing contemporary and traditional music. His career led him to a fusion of these styles. In 1973 he joined the Tenetemba Jazz in Bamako, Mali. Later still, he was noted as the lead singer of the Koule Star Band of Kuchala.
In 1975 he moved to Abidjan, Ivory Coast, where he formed his group: Super Mande in which some of the greatest luminaries of West African music circulated as band members: Salif Keita, Mory Kante, Kante Manfila, Ousmane Kouyate and many more. In 1978, Super Mande released its first recording: Wahabia-Ke Daschi. The album was banned from airplay because the title song criticized some “marabout” religious leaders.
In 1992, he joined the famous Ballets Koteba as a singer and guitarist and toured the world playing guitar with Les Go de Koteba.
In New York since 1996, he was noted in 2002 as one of the stars of the Smithsonian Folkways compilation: Badenya, Manden Jaliya in New York City, he was featured on the cover of the album.
Since then, he has made collaborations with jazzmen Don Byron and Peter Apfelbaum and with guitarist-journalist Banning Eyre.
In 2005, under the name Djoss Diabate, he released his first American album: Haklima.
Abdoulaye Diabaté is a member of several New York City world music and African jazz collectives and bands, including Fula Flute and Source.
Discography:
Wahabiadachi, with Super Mande
Badenya: Manden Jaliya in New York City (Smithsonian Folkways compilation, (2002)
It Is Written, with Peter Apfelbaum & the New York Hieroglyphics (2005)
Haklima (2005)
Tonight’s African Jazz Band, with Source (Completelly Nuts Records, 2006)
Stories to Tell, with Sean Noonan (Songlines, 2007)
Boxing Dreams, with Sean Noonan (Songlines, 2008)
Sara (Completelly Nuts Records, 2009)
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.