Cheick Hamala Diabate is a musician from Mali, West Africa, who has been nominated for a Grammy award. Using

Adelphi, Maryland Adelphi is an unincorporated area and census-designated place in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. Per the 2020 Census, the population was 16,823. Adelphi includes the following subdivisions; Adelphi, Adelphi Park, Adelphi Hills, Ad ...

, as his home he travels all over the United States, Canada, Europe, and Asia. He has performed at the Kennedy Center, the United States Senate, and the Smithsonian Institution. Cheick Hamala was born into a griot family in Kita, Mali. From a young age, he learned to play the ngoni, a stringed instrument related to the American banjo. In addition, Cheick has learned the history of Mali passed down for over 800 years. Cheick has performed internationally.

History

Cheick Hamala Diabaté is recognized as one of the world's masters of ngoni, a Malian traditional instrument, and a West African historian in the Griot tradition. A sought-after performer, lecturer, storyteller, and choreographer throughout Africa, Europe, Asia, and Canada, Cheick Hamala began touring in the U.S. in 1995. He has performed at venues such as the Krannert Center,

Smithsonian Institution The Smithsonian Institution ( ), or simply the Smithsonian, is a group of museums and education and research centers, the largest such complex in the world, created by the U.S. government "for the increase and diffusion of knowledge". Founded ...

and the John F.

Kennedy Center The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts (formally known as the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts, and commonly referred to as the Kennedy Center) is the United States National Cultural Center, located on the Potom ...

for the Performing Arts. A steward of the 800-year-old tradition of the Griot, the storytellers of West Africa, Cheick Hamala shares the oral history, music, and song of his culture as it was passed on to him from birth by parent to child. At an early age, Cheick Hamala mastered the ngoni, a stringed lute and ancestor to the banjo. He learned to play the guitar from his uncle, and now plays banjo and several other instruments; but his renown remains with the historical ngoni. At age 12,, he was invited to the National Institute of Arts in Bamako, Mali's Capital, where he studied music, graphic arts, cinema, literature and theatre. He began his international performing career upon graduation. Cheick Hamala works with notable traditional African dance companies based in the U.S. as instructor, choreographer, and performer. He also performs solo and with his ensemble, playing traditional Manding Griot instruments. His music always reflects the historical integrity of an important art form with a rich tradition stretching back hundreds of years to the formation of the Great Malian Empire.
courtesy of Mali Music.net

Awards

* Grammy nomination (2007): Best Traditional World Music Album for "From Mali to America" by Cheick Hamala Diabate & Bob Carlin

Collaborations

Salif Keita Salif Keïta () (born 25 August 1949) is a Malian singer-songwriter, referred to as the "Golden Voice of Africa". He is a member of the Keita royal family of Mali. Biography Early life Salif Keita was born a traditional prince in the village o ...

* Bela Fleck *

Corey Harris Corey Harris (born February 21, 1969, in Denver, Colorado, United States) is an American blues and reggae musician, currently residing in Charlottesville, Virginia. Along with Keb' Mo' and Alvin Youngblood Hart, he raised the flag of acoustic ...

Bob Carlin Bob Carlin (born March 17, 1953 in New York City) is an American old-time banjo player and singer. Carlin performs primarily in the clawhammer Clawhammer, sometimes called down-picking, overhand, or frailing, is a distinctive banjo playing ...

Toumani Diabaté Toumani Diabaté ( ; born 10 August 1965) is a Malian kora player. In addition to performing the traditional music of Mali, he has also been involved in cross-cultural collaborations with flamenco, blues, jazz, and other international styles. ...

* Chopteeth Afrofunk Big Band *Ami Koita * Kandia Kouyate *Yayi Kanoute *Fanta Disco *Fadiala Diawara *Meera Chakravarthy *Rob Coltun

Discography

Albums

* "Ake Ben Mali Denou" (2013) * "Ake Doni Doni" (2009) * "From Mali to America" w/ Bob Carlin (2007) * "Kèlè Manyi Dé" (2006)

Literary Mentions

*"In Griot Time," by Banning Eyre (p. 105) *"Griots and Griottes: Masters of Words and Music," by Thomas A. Hale

References

* "Rough Guide to West Africa 5" by Richard Trillo * "Rough Guide to World Music : Volume 1" by Rough Guides
Cheick Hamala Diabate's official website

External links

Cheick Hamala Diabate's official website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Diabate, Cheick Hamala Malian musicians Living people Year of birth missing (living people) People from Kita, Mali People from Adelphi, Maryland 21st-century Malian people