Toumani Diabaté was a Malian kora player. In addition to performing the traditional music of Mali, he was involved in cross-cultural collaborations with flamenco, blues, jazz, and other international
Diabaté and his kora in 2007
Diabaté performing at the 2007 Winnipeg Folk Festival
New Ancient Strings is a studio album by the Malian musicians Toumani Diabaté and Ballaké Sissoko, released on 22 June 1999 by the British label Hannibal Records. The album comprises eight instrumenta
Both Toumani Diabaté (pictured in 2009) and his father, Sidiki, are regarded as the foremost kora player of their respective generations.
Nighttime view of the Bamako cityscape, facing southward toward the Niger River. New Ancient Strings was recorded at the Palais des Congrès, a conference center located by the northern riverbank (and visible in this photo).
Ballaké Sissoko (pictured in 2021) rose to greater international prominence after the release of New Ancient Strings.