Fatoumata Diawara London Ko

The Malian singer's third studio album includes features from Damon Albarn, Roberto Fonseca (Buena Vista Social Club), -M-, Angie Stone, Yemi Alade and M.anifest.

One of the most outstanding voices in global pop, Fatoumata Diawara's music can be classified between Afro-pop, Afro-folk and Afro-futurism - in the midst of tradition and modernity. Always with a guitar in hand, she brings together the rhythms of Wassoulou and West African vocal techniques with contemporary sounds. On London KO, the singer, composer, musician and actress draws attention to contemporary conflicts through an alternation of avant-garde and tributes to her ancestors, and processes experiences of her native Mali, especially the role of women and children. Born out of a collaboration with Damon Albarn, London KO represents an imaginary continent that brings Europe and Africa closer together - specifically London and Bamako. The joint song "Nsera" was not only the first track of the upcoming album, but also testimony to a long musical bond between the two musicians*. In projects like Africa Express, Rocket Juice & The Moon, the Gorillaz track "Désolé" as well as numerous live performances they already worked hand in hand. The artist has received further prominent support from Cuban piano virtuoso Roberto Fonseca (Buena Vista Social Club), Nigerian Afropop singer and activist Yemi Alade, and French rock musician -M-, among others. The result is London KO, a versatile work that, true to the two-time Grammy-nominated singer's own style, combines traditional African music with facets of Afrobeat, jazz, pop, electro and hip-hop. With London KO, Fatoumata Diawara shows us a vision of Africa's versatility. She creates a place where it is possible to become the master of one's own destiny and thus positions herself as an important player in the future society. Fatoumata Diawara shows once again that she belongs in the first league of the great voices of Afrofuturism.