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The Senior Griot
Kasse Mady Diabate is a Malian national treasure, the
greatest of the famed griots of Kela. Elizabeth Kinder
sings his praises.
Wrasse), a celebration of Malian tradition-
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235 AD: 110km south-west of replaced on the hut. On this occasion the
Bamako on the banks of the griots perform those epic songs; songs al music, might at last bring Kasse Mady
Niger River, massive celebrations passed down through the centuries. the recognition he deserves outside the
headed up by 12 warrior kings,
Kasse Mady Diabate is one of those
country. When I first heard it, it had a
brought together by Soundiata
griots, the senior reciter in the re-roofing
huge impact, bigger than when I first
Keita, took place just outside Kangaba.
ceremony. He’s the greatest link now in
heard Salif Keita’s Soro all those years
They had just defeated the hated black-
Mali between the old traditions and mod-
ago. It’s a gorgeous mix of traditional
smith sorcerer king and their victory
ern society and holds a special place in the
acoustic instruments (with the odd electric
marked the beginning of the Malian
hearts of the entire population. As a
guitar thrown in) played by Mali’s finest,
empire. The famed griots from Kela sang
singer and a griot he’s concerned with
including what is possibly the only record-
in praise of the warriors, along with
Maninka traditions and his role as their
ing of Toumani and his brother Madou
other songs with texts that formed a
guardian. Humility in the service of others
Diabate playing kora together.
kind of charter providing the foundation
has featured high in his life. Making a It might be traditional music with
for their new country. Kangaba became
name for himself in the music ancient roots but it sounds fresh; timeless.
a hallowed place and a sacred hut
business hasn’t featured at all. There’s a hint of jazz in the arrangements,
was built to remember Soundiata.
I hope that his wonder-
great melodies, beautiful harmonies,
No one bar his descendants are
ful new album Manden
dancing rhythms and on top of it all Kasse
allowed entry – except griots
Djeli Kan (Universal France/
Mady’s soul-stirring, uplifting voice. Kasse
from Kela. Every seven
means ‘to weep’. He was named after his
years (since 1235) the
grandfather who taught him to sing; also
thatch has been
possessing an amazing voice, Kasse senior
found it had the power to make people
cry. His was a prescient name for his
grandson. The engineer on Manden
Djeli Kan told Lucy Duran, who later
worked at the same studios with
Bassekou Kouyate, that during Kasse
Mady’s recording of a traditional
wedding lament, Sinanon Saran, his
voice was so moving, everyone in
the studio was in floods of tears, all
the musicians and the engineer him-
self. It wasn’t an unusual occurrence
Photo: Philip Ryalls
she says. Throughout Mali, people
are moved to tears by his voice.
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