West African Artist to make rare visit to Ohio

IRONTON -- World-class and Grammy-nominated West African artist Mamadou Diabate makes a rare visit into the area at 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 22, as he is in concert at the Riffe Rotunda at Ohio University Southern.

The concert is free and open to the public.

Named World Music Artist of the Year by the American Folk Alliance in 2007, Diabate and his ensemble play traditional West African music fused with elements of jazz, blues and rock on the 21-stringed kora.

The ensemble includes Balla Kouyate playing balafon (similar to a xylophone), Ibrahima "Kolipe" Camera on percussion and Mawuena Kodjovi on bass.

Since 2000, Mamadou Diabate has released three CDs, one of which, "Behmanka (World Village)," was nominated for a Grammy in 2005. After touring the U.S. in 1996 as part of the Instrumental Ensemble of Mali, Mamadou decided to stay in the U.S. and now calls it home.

In addition to the free public performance, the Briggs Library will present two cultural outreach programs featuring the musicians who will perform, as well as talk about their music, instruments, culture and travels.

The free programs are at 2 p.m. today at the Main Library in Ironton and at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, July 22, at the Sybene Senior Center (who is a co-sponsor of this outreach program). Both programs are free and open to the public.

The programs are part of the Ohio Arts Council's IMPACT (International Music and Performing Arts in Communities Tour) program.