Afropop Worldwide

NYC- and really, quite a bit of the US- is in for a serious treat this September, as we have the honor of playing host to Fatoumata Diawara, a rising international star and a talent of the first order. Born in Cote d'Ivoire to Malian parents, Fatoumata became a performer against both social and family opposition; although she had a burgeoning career as a film actress by the age of 18, her parents wanted her to settle down to a more traditional life, and pressured her to quit performing. Refusing to assent, Fatoumata ran away from her home in Bamako, catching a jet to Paris and starting her career in earnest. Featuring her supple, powerful voice, Fatoumata's music is an elegant fusion of a number of disparate elements. Strongly influenced by the musical tradition of the Wassoulou (a cultural group from a region covering areas in Mali, Guinea and Cote d'Ivoire) Fatoumata blends these roots with modern styles of djembe, bass and kora, the whole refracted through the bright, jazzy intimacy of vocals. Growing up in the Ivory Coast, both Bambara and Wassoulou were spoken in the home, and her music combines these languages, in addition to both French and English. Her latest album, the gorgeous "Fatou," was the number one world music album in Europe for six months. Since it was released in the United States, it has continued to garner overwhelming praise. This is her first US tour, and we will be giving away THREE PAIRS OF TICKETS to see her NYC DEBUT at the Michael Schimmel Center for the Arts on Friday, Sept 28th. To enter EITHER send an email with the subject line "Fatoumata" to info@afropop.org OR tweet to us @afropopww. Good luck!