Kanazoé Diabaté
Seydou "Kanazoe" Dioubate is a balafonist from Burkina Faso, living in southern France. His group "Kanazoé Orkestra" has released three albums, and a fourth is immanent. The band features several balafons, both pentatonic and diatonic, ngoni, bass, guitar, percussion, and saxophone, and the tour in Europe regularly. Kanazoe sends important messages to the world through his music. He is concerned for the future of the young generation of griot children in Africa. There are not many teachers left! His dream is to build a school back in Burkina Faso to teach children balafon. Meanwhile, Kanazoe has a small community of French (and other) dedicated balafon students who support him. Check out his new releases and concert dates on his website www.kanazoe-orkestra.com.
Manding Grooves talked with Kanazoe in February 2020, right before the first confinement in France. It was his last concert for several years.
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Then, we talked to Kanazoe again in September 2022 in Forcalquier, after the music scene had re-opened. He talks about the new style of balafon playing that he invented and youth of Burkina Faso are now following! He also told us about his new single, just release. He says it is called Folikadi. "Music is sweet," a song he wrote while living in confinement at home. Here is an exclusive audio of Kanazoe singing Folikadi, and an example of his fast-style soloing in which he sustains a note, normally not done on balafon, by hitting it rapidly. multiple times, making it sound closer to a wind instrument.
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