David Dalle
Thursday August 21st, 2025 with David Dalle
The ghost of my favourite Malian singer; old Zimbabwean music and new South African Amapiano; Brooklyn Raga Massive.

One of my favourite African singers, the great Malian Kassé Mady Diabaté, left this world without much warning in May of 2018 (listen to my tribute to this giant here https://cod.ckcufm.com/programs/105/37809.html). Kassé Mady Diabaté only released six albums between 1989 and 2014 (although he appeared as a guest singer on many more). However, he was considered a legend in Mali. His daughter, Hawa Kassé Mady Diabaté, has continued her father's and generation's of musical legacy. We heard her recent album earlier this year with her Trio Da Kali, featuring balafon with Lassana Diabaté and ngoni with Madou Kouyate, as well as their 2017 collaboration with the Kronos Quartet. She is back with a new album, a posthumous celebration of her father. Kassé Mady Diabaté was working on a new album in early 2018 in Bamako, which remained unfinished when he died. Hawa finished the album, adding her voice to her father's in recordings made in Bamako in 2023. The album "Toumaro" ("Farewell") has just been released, featuring wonderful duets between father and daughter. Last night, I was chatting with a young Zimbabwean woman, and the conversation naturally turned to music. I asked her what are young Zimbabweans listening to these days, and she said she is a big fan of South African Amapiano music, which has really taken off from its origins in Johannesburg Townships in 2012 and become popular throughout Southern and Eastern Africa. We will hear a mix of current Amapiano compiled by Kenyan DJ Fabian 254. And me, being the old guy that I am, we'll also hear some incredible old Zimbabwean music from the 70's and 80's.