Piñata Music Series: Fatoumata Diawara + The Cavemen.
The Renewal of the African Sound. Tradition and modernity. Music as the glue for brotherhood between races and cultures. All of that represents the experienced Fatoumata Diawara and the emerging band The Cavemen. The Malian artist and the Nigerian duo are currently exceptional musical ambassadors, letting us know what’s happening on their continent.
Fatoumata Diawara
The Malian singer-songwriter, vocalist, and actress (based in Paris) is one of the most fascinating artists in popular music today. Her new and thirteenth album, “London Ko” (2023) – a word that emerges from the fusion of London and Bamako, a nod to the richness of cultural blending – represents a reinvention of traditional African music. It features collaborations with experienced musicians such as Damon Albarn (Blur, Gorillaz), Angie Stone, and Cuban pianist Roberto Fonseca, as well as younger talents like the Brooklyn Youth Chorus, Ghanaian rapper M.anifest, and Nigerian singer Yemi Alade, the new voice of Afrobeat. It’s a new dive into an eclectic, intense, and avant-garde universe that confirms the creative pulse of a woman who draws inspiration from Afrobeat, jazz, pop, rock, electro, and even hip-hop. Her Grammy and Victoires de la Musique nominations (French Music Awards) are just a few signs of her infinite talent, displayed over the past two decades.
The Cavemen.
The Cavemen. (written with a period at the end to avoid legal disputes with the New Zealand band of the same name) is a Nigerian duo formed by bassist Kingsley Okorie and drummer Benjamin James. They are fervent followers of the highlife tradition, a style of music that emerged from the fusion of jazz and traditional African music. In fact, the title of their second and latest album was a clear nod to the style: it’s called “Love and Highlife” (2021). Alongside their predecessor, “Roots” (2020), which won the Headies Award for Best Alternative Album, the duo established their reputation as splendid ambassadors of their country’s music. They are respectful of their musical tradition while remaining attuned to the present.
