Artist description Elder Yaya Diallo, a native of Mali, West Africa and author of "The Healing Drum: African Wisdom Teachings" was raised in a culture that works, worships, lives and breaths to the beat of the drum. Yaya Diallo's classic 1980 album "Nangape" brought recognition to his profound knowledge of traditional African healing arts. With his stated purpose sharing "the rhythms of my grandparents along with the knowledge of my people and our culture with the world" Yaya Diallo has acquired an international reputation as a musician, healer, composer,dancer, teacher of music and dance, lecturer, storyteller and author.

Music Style World/Africa

Musical Influences Traditional West African Music

Similar Artists Yaya Diallo is unique to Yaya Diallo.

Artist History By tradition, a permanent member of the village of Fienso, Republic of Mali, Yaya Diallo comes from a family of hunters, county chiefs and musicians. Following his graduation from the University of Montreral in 1973 and a brief career as a chemist, Yaya returned to traditional African music. He was co-founder of the music and dance groups Djembe-Kan and Cleba and later formed the band Kanza. His classic LP album "Nangape," recorded in Canada and released in 1980 brought international recognition to his work. This debut album "Nangape," reissued on CD in 2002, was followed by several published recordings and books.

Group Members Album Nangape: Yaya Diallo, Sylvain Leroux Band Kanza: Core members include Yaya Diallo (African percussion), Jody Golick (Saxophone), Joel Zifkin (Electric violin)

Instruments CD Nangape: Djembe, balafon, dounouba, tama, conga, flute / CD Yaya Diallo - Live at Club Soda: Vocals, djembe, balafon, electric guitar, bass guitar, drum set, saxophone, electric violin, dounouba

Albums Nangape, The Healing Drum, Dounoukan, Dombaa Folee, Live at Club Soda

Press Reviews ... Nangape, a timeless classic in its own rights, holds the primitive sounds of drums intermingling with the progressive soothing sounds of flutes that encapsulate you in a world of inner peace.... Wednesday Elektra Space Junkies Magazine, Issue #2, 2002. http://www.angelfire.com/music4/space_junkies ... An excellent collection by an enduring performer. If you are interested in the African healing arts and the sounds used, this is the CD you should have in your library. NANGAPE is a great expression of Yaya Diallo's cultural heritage. Lee Prosser JazzReview.com 2002. ... a delightful exploration of the traditional music of Mali in general, and of the use of the balafon in particular.... Mike High Cadence, The American Review of Jazz & Blues, May, 1982. ... Yaya Diallo, who hails from Mali, and whose congas, balafon, tama and dounouba capture West African 4/4 and 6/8 in so lively and listenable a manner it is hard to resist them.... Down Beat, The Contemporary Music Magazine, April, 1983.

Additional Info Recordings by Yaya Diallo: 1980 Nangape, 1982 Senghor (CBC cinema), 1990 The Healing Drum: African Ceremonial and Ritual Music, 1995 Dounoukan, 1998 Dombaa Folee: Minianka Medicine Music of Mali, 2002 Nangape reissued / Books 1985 At the Threshold of the African Soul: The Fulani-Minianka Way - A Village Voice, 1989 The Healing Drum: African Wisdom Teachings, 2001 At the Threshold of the African Soul Reissued.

Location Montreal, BC - Canada

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