A performance by Fatoumata Diawara, the internationally-acclaimed Malian singer and guitarist, will open this year’s Francophonie Festival on Saturday, March 12 at the Alliance Française in Accra.
Noted for her sweet, lush voice, Diawara has performed or recorded with well-known artistes like Oumou Sangaré, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Bassekou Kouyate and Orchestre Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou.
She has spent the recent years touring the world, with landmark concerts in England, South America, Asia and Australia as well as multiple trips to the United States.
Diawara is also an actress and has a contributed to film scores. With her impressive guitar playing and vocal ability, Diawara is among an accomplished pack of African women instrumentalists, including trombonist Ziya Makuzeni and pianist Thandi Ntuli from South Africa and bassist Manou Gallo from Cote d’Ivoire who are making waves on the international circuit.
As part of the Francophonie Festival, there will be film screenings from Monday, March 14 to Thursday March 17 at the Maison Française, Reginald Amonoo Building, and University of Ghana.
The festival ends on Saturday, March 19 with a food and cultural fair at Alliance Francaise and a night of humour with a one-woman show dubbed Ouagadougou Presse by Burkinabe star, Roukiata Ouedraogo.
