Prince Bio
ENGLISH VERSION
VERSION FRANCAISE VOIR LE SITE WEB
www.princediabate.com
BACKGROUND
Prince Diabate hails from a prominent Malinke family from Guinea, West Africa. He learned his art from his father, Djeli Sory Diabate. Breaking with tradition his father also taught Prince's mother, Djeli Sira Cissoko, to play kora and the young boy became an exceptionally early starter by accompanying his parents to their concerts throughout West Africa.
After graduating from music school in Guinea aged 16, Prince left for Abidjan, Ivory Coast. One day he stumbled upon a videocassette of Jimi Hendrix and, inspired by what he heard, entered an international kora competition. Taking first prize he became known from that day as "Prince Diabate, Prince of the Kora."
In 1986 he met the singer, Amara Sanoh, and the two started to perform together. In 1990 they won the "Decouvertes" Award sponsored by Radio France Internationale. After 12 successful years on the international festival circuit touring in Africa, Europe, Canada & the USA, the duo disbanded and Prince Diabate settled in Los Angeles. He has recorded 4 studio albums: Lamaranaa in Paris 1993, NEW LIFE in Los Angeles & New York 2001, and DJERELON recorded in Guinea 2006 and produced by the late Kante Manfila, longtime collaborator of Salif Keita. The latest album, MY MUSIC, was released in October 2022 and is available on all major platforms.
Considered to be one of the leading kora players of his generation, Prince Diabate brings not only total mastery over his ancestral tradition, but a commitment to renew it through fresh ideas and exchanges with musicians from many cultures. His years in the USA produced collaborations with artists and groups as diverse as The New Mexico Symphony Orchestra, Adam del Monte (Flamenco), Paul Livingstone (sitar) , Grammy winner Ozomatli (Hip-Hop/Latin rock) and Grammy nominee, Michael Brook. The musically adventurous griot has incorporated reggae, rap and blues into his work and, further developing his "Jimi Hendrix" technique, was the first kora player to punctuate his work by the occasional, funky use of the wah-wah pedal. Now he has adapted the music of the Wassolou to his repertoire, which he plays, self-taught on the kamelen n'goni. The result is entirely his own creation: a fresh, powerful brand of twenty-first century Manden music, which remains strongly rooted in traditional codes and references.
NEW ACOUSTIC DUO
These days Prince Diabate divides his time between France, the USA and Guinea. In 2021 he formed an acoustic duo in France with the guitarist, Edouard Chaize, and they are often on the road performing together.
INTERNATIONAL MUSIC SCHOOL, GUINEA
At the end of 2013 the Prince Diabate Music Academy was officially launched in Guinea. This new academy, the first privately-funded establishment in Guinea, is the result of Prince Diabate's desire to create an international music school specializing in stringed instruments and traditional flute. Construction is still underway and thanks to the encouragement of government ministers in Guinea and the generosity of private donors an official opening is scheduled for early 2024.
DISCOGRAPHY
"Lamaranaa" (Buda MusiqueAllegro) 1993
"New Life" (Sunrise Records/Orchard) 2001
"Djerelon" (Kora Company Collection/ CD Baby) 2006
"My Music" (Kora Company Collection) 2022
www.princediabate.com
www.princediabate.bandcamp.com
VERSION FRANCAISE VOIR LE SITE WEB
www.princediabate.com
BACKGROUND
Prince Diabate hails from a prominent Malinke family from Guinea, West Africa. He learned his art from his father, Djeli Sory Diabate. Breaking with tradition his father also taught Prince's mother, Djeli Sira Cissoko, to play kora and the young boy became an exceptionally early starter by accompanying his parents to their concerts throughout West Africa.
After graduating from music school in Guinea aged 16, Prince left for Abidjan, Ivory Coast. One day he stumbled upon a videocassette of Jimi Hendrix and, inspired by what he heard, entered an international kora competition. Taking first prize he became known from that day as "Prince Diabate, Prince of the Kora."
In 1986 he met the singer, Amara Sanoh, and the two started to perform together. In 1990 they won the "Decouvertes" Award sponsored by Radio France Internationale. After 12 successful years on the international festival circuit touring in Africa, Europe, Canada & the USA, the duo disbanded and Prince Diabate settled in Los Angeles. He has recorded 4 studio albums: Lamaranaa in Paris 1993, NEW LIFE in Los Angeles & New York 2001, and DJERELON recorded in Guinea 2006 and produced by the late Kante Manfila, longtime collaborator of Salif Keita. The latest album, MY MUSIC, was released in October 2022 and is available on all major platforms.
Considered to be one of the leading kora players of his generation, Prince Diabate brings not only total mastery over his ancestral tradition, but a commitment to renew it through fresh ideas and exchanges with musicians from many cultures. His years in the USA produced collaborations with artists and groups as diverse as The New Mexico Symphony Orchestra, Adam del Monte (Flamenco), Paul Livingstone (sitar) , Grammy winner Ozomatli (Hip-Hop/Latin rock) and Grammy nominee, Michael Brook. The musically adventurous griot has incorporated reggae, rap and blues into his work and, further developing his "Jimi Hendrix" technique, was the first kora player to punctuate his work by the occasional, funky use of the wah-wah pedal. Now he has adapted the music of the Wassolou to his repertoire, which he plays, self-taught on the kamelen n'goni. The result is entirely his own creation: a fresh, powerful brand of twenty-first century Manden music, which remains strongly rooted in traditional codes and references.
NEW ACOUSTIC DUO
These days Prince Diabate divides his time between France, the USA and Guinea. In 2021 he formed an acoustic duo in France with the guitarist, Edouard Chaize, and they are often on the road performing together.
INTERNATIONAL MUSIC SCHOOL, GUINEA
At the end of 2013 the Prince Diabate Music Academy was officially launched in Guinea. This new academy, the first privately-funded establishment in Guinea, is the result of Prince Diabate's desire to create an international music school specializing in stringed instruments and traditional flute. Construction is still underway and thanks to the encouragement of government ministers in Guinea and the generosity of private donors an official opening is scheduled for early 2024.
DISCOGRAPHY
"Lamaranaa" (Buda MusiqueAllegro) 1993
"New Life" (Sunrise Records/Orchard) 2001
"Djerelon" (Kora Company Collection/ CD Baby) 2006
"My Music" (Kora Company Collection) 2022
www.princediabate.com
www.princediabate.bandcamp.com
