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Guitarist and singer Alpha Yaya Diallo, from Guinea in West Africa, is one of the most popular Canadian World Music artists. Now based in Vancouver, he’s earned a matchless reputation for the excellence of his musicianship and the excitement of his “live” shows—whether performing solo or with his band.
Diallo is a multi-talented artist. His dexterous acoustic and electric guitar playing, with its fluid melodic lines and compelling grooves, places him in the front ranks of African guitarists. In addition, he’s a skilled and experienced performer on a variety of percussion instruments and on the balafon (traditional marimba). Alpha also writes all of his compositions and sings with a supple, high, and beautifully modulated voice.
For 2024-2025 Alpha will be touring with WEST AFRICAN SUMMIT, showcasing the best music and dance of his native region. Featuring Alpha’s sparkling guitar along with kora, balafon, bass, percussion and dance, it is an all-encompassing show of melody, percussion and movement.
By successfully combining the traditional and the contemporary in African music, Diallo has carved out a niche besides Youssou N’Dour, Salif Keita, Baba Maal and Mory Kante. But, if anything, the blend of musical elements in Alpha’s work is even richer and more diverse, a heritage from childhood. His father worked as a doctor/surgeon, frequently on the move with his family. Growing up in different regions of Guinea, Diallo was exposed to a range of cultures, absorbing musical influences from the Malenke, Sousou and his own Falani people. In addition, he spent time in neighboring Senegal, where his mother has relatives, and picked up the powerful mbalax rhythm there, along with influences from Cape Verde and the Caribbean.
A self-taught musician, Alpha possesses a fine ear and quickly learned how to transpose for guitar the melodic and rhythmic patterns he heard on Guinean instruments. While at school and university he was already in high demand as a musician, performing with bands the Sons of Ra’is and Syli Authentique.
Eventually, Alpha had the opportunity to move to Europe and joined Fatala—a group of African musicians recording for Peter Gabriel’s Real World Records. Fatala traveled widely and performed throughout Western Europe, including sets at the prestigious WOMAD Festival in England and Festival d’Angouleme in France. After Fatala’s 1991 North American tour, Alpha stayed and settled in British Columbia.
Since then, he has recorded eight highly-acclaimed albums under his name as well as three collaborative albums. Both his debut, Nene (1993)—on which he plays all the instruments—and Futur (1996), were nominated for JUNO Awards, the Canadian Music Industry’s highest accolade. In addition, Futur bagged the Music Africa Award for National Recording Of The Year. Diallo’s The Message (1998) took the coveted JUNO Award in 1999 for Best Global Recording. The Journey (2002) took another JUNO for Best Global Recording and Best World Independent. Over time, Alpha has earned more Canadian awards than he can count.
In recent years, Diallo has criss-crossed North America many times, garnering praise at major concert venues and at an ever-increasing number of world music, jazz, folk and other festivals. He’s shared the stage with the likes of David Lindley, Thomas Mapfumo, and reggae stars Jimmy Cliff, Third World and Burning Spear.
Diallo is recognized as one of the leading musicians in Canada in any genre, and was a member of the hugely successfully African Guitar Summit concert held in Toronto. The resulting CD gained another JUNO.
A documentary about Diallo and his music, The Best of Both Worlds, was filmed during a trip to Guinea and back home in Canada, where it was broadcast by both the English and French CBC. He’s also written and performed music for several major films: Rendition (2007), District 9 (2009), The Ivory Game (2016) and Cirque du Soleil World (2018).
With Doy doy, his newest release, Alpha takes his art to new heights. The title means a new state of wariness: “We need to pay more attention today to how we live our lives in the face of challenges, to show responsibility, and to act with care.” Produced by legendary Malian multi-instrumentalist Ahmed Fofani, who plays ngoni and kora, Doy doy features top-notch African musicians Adama Bilaro Dembele on percussion, Naby Camara on balafon, Etienne Mongala on bass, Knowledge Majonik on drums, and Madagascar Slim on guitar. As usual, Diallo sings and plays both acoustic and electric guitars. Janelle Reid sings on two tracks, and Ndidi Cascade raps on two others.
Always seeking new territories to explore, while at the same time respecting his roots, Alpha Yaya Diallo is one of most inspired and inspirational World Music artists performing today. |
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Alpha Yaya Diallo’s WEST AFRICAN SUMMIT has open availability for the 2024-2025 season.
Alpha Yaya Diallo’s WEST AFRICAN SUMMIT has open availability for the 2024-2025 touring season. The group consists of guitar, kora, balafon, bass, percussion and female dancers. They are based in Vancouver, British Columbia.
Herschel Freeman Agency, Inc. has established a reputation for finding innovative, traditional musicians from throughout North America and around the world.
Our roster encompasses established and emerging artists from India, Ireland, Hawaii, Guinea, France, Cuba, Italy, Scotland, Japan, Germany, Sweden and England, and an array of musicians from Canada and the United States.
