west african

Kasse Mady Diabate was born in Kéla, Mali in 1949. The Diabatés are one of the two biggest griots families. Their ancestor Morykaba Diabaté fought with Soundjata in the 13th century. Kela is the capital of the griots, the Mecca of musical tradition. All of his cousins, brothers, sisters, know how to sing without micro before thousands of people but Kassé Mady is different because of his sweet voice. He owes his fame in Mali to this gentle, though powerful voice.

Fatima Al Qadiri is a Brooklyn-based composer, musician, curator and artist. Born in Senegal, Al Qadiri's exposure to the rampant misappropriation of Western subculture while growing up in Kuwait is apparent in her highly virtuosic body of work. She has performed her symphonic and plaintive baroque electronic compositions at The Kitchen, Gallery 179 and Santos Party House and has regularly exhibited multimedia projects in New York City and Kuwait alongside fellow iconoclasts Khalid Al Gharaballi and Lauren Boyle.

Read more about Fatima Al Qadiri on Last.fm.