We are fantastically proud to present Madina N’diaye at Clandestino, one of Mali’s finest and most active artists. She’s today the only woman playing kora who has made a name for herself in music festivals in and outside of Mali. This year her debut album, recorded in Bamako in 2004, is distributed in Europe.

Alongside of Madina N’diayes song and kora, is the Siraman Sanougos with a distinct balafon accompaniment that’s characteristic of the Bimogow. N’diaye has had to deal with fierce resistance from male traditionalists (rumours say that her instrument’s strings where cut), but she has learnt her handicraft from the best. Among her teachers are masters like Djélimadi Cissoko, Mady Koyaté and not to forget, Toumani Diabaté who gave her the kora that she takes on tour.

The recording of the album wasn’t stopped by the fact that N’diaye suddenly lost her sight after a serious eye-nerve infection. That her voice, cora playing, and political driving force are intact will be clear to her audiences during the afternoon concert on one of the hidden roof terraces of Gothenburg.

Daniel Lemma

“The expulsions via charter flights and brutal force are not worthy of a democratic government. It is deplorable to see that a great country like France, defender of human rights, should behave in such a way against Africans whose only ‘crime’ is to be poor...a poverty that is maintained, incidentally, by our former colonisers.”

Madina N’diaye