Toumani Diabate at final Fez concert

From the moment he stepped onto the stage, Toumani Diabate had the audience on their feet and dancing at the final concert of the Fez Festival at Bab Makina.

Diabate and his Le Symmetric Orchestra hail from Mali. Diabate is a griot, descended from 71 generations of musicians and is probably the greatest kora player today. The kora is a 21-string instrument unique to West Africa.

Diabate has played with some world-renowned musicians such as Ali Farka Toure and Salif Keita, and has been honoured for his contribution towards the development of the kora which is now played in many musical genres.

Artistic Director, Gerard Kurdjian, is to be congratulated on securing this superb artist for the final concert at the last minute, after Loreen McKennitt was forced to cancel her appearance. It was, perhaps, a more fitting finale - the audience were certainly appreciative.

The concert ended with the appearance on stage with Diabate of the Aissawa and Hamadcha Sufi Brotherhoods, an echo of last year's performance of the Hamadcha with Ismael Lo. In the words of the Festival organisers, "After nine days of travelling to all corners of the globe for sacred music, the Festival now returns to Fez and its secular traditions, with the music and songs of these brotherhoods that are part of the soul of the city and of Morocco."

We apologise for the lack of photographs: our favourite photographer had to leave Fez and missed the last two concerts. Photos will follow as soon as possible.


Tags: Moroccan Morocco Fes, Maghreb news