Djanka Diabaté, nicknamed "La Divine", is a legendary singer from Guinea who conquered the world with her enchanting voice and her exceptional talent for Mandingo music. Born in a well-known grit family, she bathed from an early age in the cultural richness of West Africa.
Featuring an incomparable soft vocal tone, Djanka has managed to combine the tradition of griottes with a modern and unique touch, collaborating with international stars such as Mory Kanté, Salif Keita, Youssou Ndour and the Gipsy Kings. Her marriage to the famous guitarist Sekou Bembeya Diabaté gave rise to acclaimed albums, cementing her status as an indispensable icon and ambassador of Mandingue music worldwide.
Introduction
In the rich musical landscape of West Africa, a unique voice rises, captivating hearts and souls with her unparalleled softness and power. Djanka Diabaté, nicknamed "La Divine", is an indispensable icon of Mandinga music, whose transcendent talent has crossed borders and conquered the entire world. Originally from Conakry, Guinea, this outstanding singer has managed to combine the richness of her cultural heritage with unusual vocal virtuosity, shaping a musical journey that is both inspiring and fascinating.
Childhood
Born into a family of renowned griots, Djanka Diabaté swam from an early age in a vibrant and enchanting musical universe. Her father, Mamadi Diabaté, was the balladist of the Guinean Instrumental Ensemble, while her mother was an accomplished singer. Surrounded by musical talents such as her aunt Sara Diabaté, a great singer, her uncles Sidi Karamogo, Sidi Mamadi and Sidi Moussa, known throughout West Africa, her brother Sidi Diabate, a member of the famous 22 Band of Kankan, and her sisters, ballad players and singers, Djanka was destined to follow in the footsteps of this illustrious lineage.
At the early age of seven, Djanka began singing and playing balloon in the legendary "Kankan Ensemble". Her early talent and angelic voice quickly caught the attention of all those who were lucky enough to hear her. This was how her passion for music was forged, a passion that was going to shape her future and propel her to unthinkable peaks.
Musical career
At the age of 20, Djanka Diabaté embarked on an international career, leaving behind the borders of Guinea to share her art with the world. Her exceptional talent has enabled her to collaborate with some of the most famous personalities of the African and international music scene. Alongside stars such as Mory Kanté, Salif Keita, Youssou Ndour, the Gipsy Kings and even Johnny Halliday, she secured the main choirs with a disconcerting mastery, captivating the most demanding audiences.
Her journey has been marked by crucial stages that have shaped his unique style. In 1984, her cousin Mory Kanté invited her to join her band as a chorist, thus opening her the doors of Europe. Djanka participated in the recording of legendary tubes such as "Ten Cola Nuts" and the famous international hit "Yéké Yéké", thus contributing to the global success of Mory Kanté.
Determining Encounters
Among the striking encounters of her life, the one with Fulgence Kassy, then manager of Alpha Blondy and famous host of RTI (Radiodiffusion Télévision Ivoirienne), was decisive. Invited to her show "Prime chance", Djanka performed the famous title "Tara" by Kouyaté Sory Kandia, capturing the attention of legendary guitarist Georges Benson. Seduced by her talent, Benson produced her first solo album, "Chérie a tout cassé", a unique work blending Mandingue music and variety.
Marriage with Sekou Bembeya Diabaté
One of the most significant stages of Djanka Diabaté's life was her marriage to the famous Guinean guitarist Sekou Bembeya Diabatè, nicknamed "Diamond Fingers". Their union gave rise to an exceptional musical collaboration, crowned by the creation of two critically acclaimed albums: "Sabou Sabou" and "Samba Gaye", both released in 1997. This association between the divine voice of Djanka and the instrumental virtuosity of Sekou Bembeya Diabaté gave birth to a Mandinga symphony of rare beauty, capturing the very essence of their cultural heritage.
Notable Albums
Thro her rich career, Djanka Diabaté has offered the world a series of remarkable albums, testifying to her incommensurable talent and her ability to transcend musical genres.
In 1989, she signed her first international album with Cobalt, simply entitled "Djanka", thereby dedicating her reputation as an outstanding singer. In the same year, she collaborated with Gipsy Kings, the famous flamenco band of Spanish origin and southern France, on their album "Alma De Noche", bringing her unique touch to this captivating musical fusion.
Her album "Serifoula", recorded in Paris in 2003, remains an indispensable reference in her repertoire. With a perfect mastery of her art and divine soft-tinted voice, Djanka has moved away from the traditional canons of the racky and powerful voices of the griots, offering a singular and enchanting interpretation of Mandingue music.
Over the years, Djanka Diabaté continued to enrich her work with prestigious collaborations and acclaimed solo albums, confirming her status as an indispensable icon of African music.
Conclusion
The life of Djanka Diabaté is an ode to Mandinga music, a vibrant testimony to the cultural richness of West Africa and the transcendent power of art. With her angelic voice and unparalleled talent, this exceptional artist has conquered the hearts of the whole world, becoming an ambassador of her culture and a source of inspiration for future generations.
Whether she shares the scene with international legends or performs her own compositions, Djanka Diabaté, "La Divine", embodies the very essence of Mandingue music, conveying ancestral traditions with incomparable grace and authenticity. Her journey is a true tribute to art and perseverance, a vivid proof that talent, coupled with passion and dedication, can transcend borders and unite peoples in a universal celebration of musical beauty.
