Balafon Beats
with Mamadou DiabatéEnchanting music from a master of the balafon.
21/22 Youth & FamiliesMusician and composer Mamadou Diabaté shares his award-winning talents on the balafon, an instrument which resembles a xylophone with wooden sound bars that are reinforced with hollowed out gourds. Diabaté's use of rhythm with the balafon's unique sound creates a captivating musical experience. His music honors millennia-old West African culture and tells the stories of the Sambla people who live in 12 villages in Burkina Faso.
Experience the sound of the balafon in this performance by Mamadou and his band Percussion Mania.
Language translation will be offered by Laura McPherson, Associate Professor of Linguistics at Dartmouth College.
Mamadou Diabaté is an award-winning balafon master and composer, born in Burkina Faso and now based in Vienna, Austria. Mamadou comes from a traditional "Jeli" family of music making and storytelling among the Mande peoples. His professional music education began at the young age of five years old. Since 2001, he has released 13 albums. Mamadou has received several awards including the Austrian World Music Award, "Grand Prix des Triangle du Balafon" (Mali) and "Prix Alkaly Camara de la virtuosité" (Mali). He has been a Knight of the National Order of Burkina Faso since 2016. Mamadou has been teaching the Sambala Balafon language at various Universities in the USA and Canada, which includes his collaborative residency work at Dartmouth. In 2010, he opened a school in Burkina Faso where 600 children are currently being taught free of charge.
Contact Us
Box Office
Box Office Hours:
Tuesday-Friday: 12-5 pm
Saturday: 2-5 pm
Open one hour prior to all ticketed events.
Visiting Information
4 E Wheelock St
Hanover, NH 03755
152 South St,
Claremont, NH 03743