Senegalese musician Diabel Cissokho is part of the great line of Cissokho griots. Growing up in Dakar and Tambacounda, surrounded by a rich musical heritage and a family of musicians, Diabel began playing a number of traditional instruments. However, Diabel’s affinity with the kora was clear from an early age. Diabel’s musical pedigree is exceptional. International tours with his family’s band Bannaya led to a long stint as Baaba Maal’s kora player, as well as with acclaimed musicians such as Kandia Kouyate, Pee Wee Ellis, Omar Pene, Artea Culture de Dakar, Cheikh Lo, Ernest Ranglin and Youssou N’Dour.

A trailblazer and pioneer of the kora, Diabel’s virtuosic talent, his “resonant voice and rocking kora style” (Songlines), have been welcomed everywhere from WOMAD, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Glastonbury, Globaltica, and London’s Barbican, where he performed alongside Femi Kuti, Cheikh Lo and Manu Dibango. Diabel’s success with bluesman Ramon Goose cemented his reputation as a versatile musician, able to effortlessly cross cultures. Their album Mansana Blues was lauded as “a flavoursome mix of slide guitar, mellow kora and undulating Mandinka rhythms” (fRoots) which “delivers moments of steamy pleasure” (Songlines). A 2010 European tour culminated in the DNA Culture Project with Ramon, Robert Plant guitarist Justin Adams, Gambian riti player Juldeh Camara and bassist Julian Joseph at Dakar’s renowned venue Just4You. Diabel’s 2012 album ‘Kanabory Siyama’ marked a return to his roots. Recorded in the UK and Dakar and featuring members of his own family, the album drew on Diabel’s rich musical heritage, blending beautiful Mandinkan melodies with an upbeat West African groove. His album received a four star review in Songlines magazine where he was also a featured artist on their Top of the World CD, as well as receiving nominations for Best Artist and Best Newcomer. Alongside the album’s release, Diabel completed an extensive uk tour at festivals and venues across the UK including the Back2Black festival at the Barbican and a spot at the UK's leading world music festival WOMAD, where he performed and was broadcast by BBC Radio 3 and was interviewed by Lucy Duran.