HAWA & KASSE MADY DIABATE “TOUMARO”

Release Dates Digital 30 May CD/ 27 June 2025/ Vinyl 05 September 2025

Kasse Mady Diabaté, a key figure in Malian music, left his mark on history with his gentle yet powerful voice, earning him the nickname ‘the golden voice of Mali’. Tremendously respected Mandingo artist, was known for his ability to touch souls with melodies and texts steeped in depth and tradition. As a griot, he carried the musical heritage of his people with dignity and talent. The album title song, Toumaro (À bientôt), written by his daughter Hawa Kasse Mady Diabaté, is part of this heritage, celebrating love and gratitude. After Kassé Mady's sudden death in 2018, Hawa continued the album her father had begun recording, offering a poignant tribute to his legacy and a beautiful way to connect with him spiritually through music. Hawa herself is an iconic figure on the Malian music scene, particularly as a member of Trio Da Kali, the griot ‘super-group’ whose album "Ladilikan" with the Kronos Quartet, produced by Lucy Duran, was a true masterpiece, as well as their latest highly praised album "Bagola", also released by One World Records. 'Toumaro', in fact, was to be released last year, but as Trio Da Kali deserved its own attention, co-producer and label owner, Carolina Vallejo, decided that Kasse Mady’s timeless album could wait a little.

"Toumaro" is a testament to the richness of the griot tradition, carried on by Hawa Kasse Mady, Madou Kouyate and Kasse Mady’s band members, that, apart from Guinean Lassana Diabate, includes the two Malian guitarists Lassine Kouyate and Gausou Kouyate. Their collaboration on "Toumaro" underlines the importance of passing on cultural and musical values, while renewing the genre through contemporary arrangements. The achievement of this historic project, hailed by connoisseurs and fans of Malian music, was realised due to the involvement of Ibrahim Kaba, a fervent defender of the preservation of Mali's musical tradition. Kaba’s unstinting support for projects like his co-production of Bassekou Kouyaté & Amy Sacho’s recent release, "Djudjon, L'Oiseau de Garaná" (One World Records 2024), testify to Kaba's commitment to keeping his country's musical roots alive, a vision shared with the studio team as well as the label, all renown for the respectful and meticulous approach to preserving treasures of the Manding culture, while bringing a contemporary dimension to them. The release of this posthumous album by Kassé Mady Diabaté, represents a moving moment, a kind of spiritual and musical resurrection that revives the joy and legacy of one of Mali's greatest artists. 

Kasse Mady Diabaté recorded just six albums between 1989 and 2014, works that have left an indelible influence on the Malian music scene. His career has been marked by a rare excellence and fidelity to Mandingo traditions, with titles such as Fodé, Manden Djeli Kan and Kiriké, becoming classics. With this album, the world has the opportunity to discover the seventh album by this unforgettable artist. It's hard not to imagine Kasse Mady, from somewhere in heaven, smiling proudly to his daughter, as he sees the legacy of his art living on. Sharing his blessings along with his daughter, they invite us to continue celebrating the beauty of Malian music and the depth of its cultural heritage.

TITLES 01. SOZANI (**) 03:43, 02. KASSE MORO (**) 03:32, 03. SIMBO 04:06,
04. FOGNANA KOUMA (**) 04:46,05. KEME BOURAMA (*) 04:44, 06. NIAGALEBA (**) 04:38, 07. KAIRA (**) 05:02, 08. KASSE DYA (**) 04:50,09. MANDE DJALI (*) 04:21,
10. LABAN DJORO (**) 03:03, 11. TOUMARO (*) 04:07.

MUSIC & TEXTS by Kasse Mady Diabate ( ), Hawa Kasse Mady Diabate *), Kasse Mady Diabate & Hawa Kasse Mady Diabate (**) ARRANGED by Madou Kouyate.
LINE UP Kasse Mady Diabate Vocal, Hawa Kasse Mady Diabate Vocal, Lassine Kouyate Acoustic Guitar, Gausou Kouyate Acoustic Guitar, Lassana Diabate Balafon, Mamadou Koné Djembe & Calabash, Madou Kouyate N’Goni Bass, Yacouba Sissoko N’Goni Bass, Zoumana Diawara Kamale N’Goni.

PRODUCED by Kasse Mady Diabate. POST-PRODUCED by Ibrahim Kaba, K’MAM Productions, Mali & Carolina Vallejo, One World Records. RECORDED in Bamako at STUDIO BOGOLAN by Yaya Diarra in 2018 & at MBK Studio Studio by Madou Kouyate in 2023. Mixed & Mastered by Madou Kouyate. Edit Carolina Vallejo.
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER Ibrahim Kaba.

Post Production Tom Leader & Carolina Vallejo. Cover Photo Lucy Duran. Cover Art Carolina Vallejo. ©℗One World Records 2025