Fatoumata Diawara

On October 2, 2026, Fatoumata Diawara arrives at Sala La Riviera in Madrid with a live show that bridges roots and the present. A singer, songwriter and actress born in Ivory Coast to a Malian family, she maps out an afro-pop that draws on wassoulou, Mandinka blues and soul, propelled by electronic textures. Her voice, clear and steady, carries lyrics that confront head-on the condition of women, exile, identity and the desire for the future, without losing the warmth of popular song.

On stage, her guitar leads a set that naturally combines traditional rhythms, backing vocals and programmed elements. Collaborations with Oumou Sangaré, Damon Albarn and Gorillaz have broadened her palette, but here the focus is on her band and on a repertoire that mixes recent cuts with songs that have already become essentials of her career. Cyclical rhythms, generous melodic lines and a measured use of electronics outline a journey that progresses in layers, alternating crescendos and pauses, and leaving room for dialogue with the audience and for occasional moments of improvisation.