Mamadou Diabaté (b. 1975, Kita, Mali) is a kora player from a jeli family; his father Djelimory Diabaté played kora in the Instrumental Ensemble of Mali. A cousin of Toumani Diabaté, under whose tutelage he worked the jeli circuit as a young musician, he won the 2009 Grammy Award for Best Traditional World Music Album for Douga Mansa and later released Griot Classique. He is a different person from Mamadou “Sidiki” Diabaté, Toumani’s brother.

Mood and energy: virtuosic, traditional, acoustic. Recommended uses: reflection, meditation.

Sacred Ground Confidence Score: 4 out of 5 stars   Final recommendation: Approved.

Why this artist belongs in Sacred Sounds: A Grammy-winning kora tradition-bearer whose solo recordings sit comfortably alongside the collection’s other contemplative acoustic work.