The acclaimed Malian singer and guitarist, Fatoumata Diawara, will open the 2016 edition of Francophonie Festival on Saturday, March 12, with a performance at the Alliance Française in Accra.
Noted for her smooth, silky voice, she has performed or recorded with Malian and international greats such as Oumou Sangaré, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Bassekou Kouyate and Orchestre Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou.
With a couple of albums to her credit, Diawara 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.
Fatoumata is also an actress and has a contributed to film scores, making her a versatile artiste who strongly projects Africa in her creative outreach.
With her impressive guitar playing and vocal ability, Fatoumata is among a sterling breed 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 festival, there will be film screenings from Monday, March 14, to Thursday, March 17, at the Maison Française, Reginald Amonoo Building, University of Ghana.
The Francophonie Festival 2016 ends on Saturday, March 19, with a food and cultural fair at Alliance Francaise as well as a night of humour with a one- woman show dubbed, Ouagadougou Presse by Burkinabe star, Roukiata Ouedraogo.
