Zou Diarra

Zoumana Diarra (1960 – 28 July 2020) better known as Zou Diarra was a Malian virtuoso musician, instrument maker and composer. In 1989 he moved from Mali to Groningen, the Netherlands.[1]

Career

Zou was born into a Griot family in Mali. Griots are seen as important people able to sing for people and the king, able to tell stories and know everything about family relationships.

Zou was known for being a virtuoso on guitar, kora and ngoni and also played balafon, djembe and saxophone. As a composer he created jazz, Rhythm and blues and Salsa music music.

Zou also made his own instruments, among others a chromatic tuned 44-string kora, the only one on earth. He also made regular instruments like djembe, which he also sold.

He played among others together with: Stef Bos, Trijntje Oosterhuis and Leoni Jansen.

Diarra's health had been severely affected by a heart attack since 2015. He died on 28 July 2020 in his sleep.

Discography
  • Super Biton de Segou – Afro Jazz de Mali (1986)
  • Alou Fané's Foté Mocoba – Kamalan N'Goni: Dozon N'Goni (1993)
  • Adama Diabaté – Jako Baye (1995)
  • King Taky & Afro Roots – Amie (1996)
  • Kaira Ben – Singa (1996)
  • Aminata Kamissoko – Malamine (1997)
  • Benkadi International – Djoulolou (1997)
  • Female Factory – Live at Carré Amsterdam (1997)
  • Zou Diarra – Ballad of Manding (1998)
  • Smilin' Osei – Alarm Blo (2001)
  • Kintaki – Unité (2004)
  • Five Great Guitars – Live 2003 (2004)
  • Zou Diarra – A Manding Journey (2004)
  • Smilin' Osei – Wajo Tactics (2005)
  • Hello Hello – Zo jij bedoel! (2006)
  • Kintaki – Nouvelle Amie! (2007)
  • Minyeshu – Dire Dawa (2008)
  • Three of a kind – Akasha (2009)
  • Mehmet Polat Trio – Next Spring (2014)

References
  1. "Virtuoos Zoumana Diarra laat zijn muziek na". OOG Radio en Televisie (in Dutch). 2 August 2020. Retrieved 3 August 2020.
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