Fatoumata Diawara Talks India Return, ‘London Ko’ Album and Damon Albarn

Speaking from her home in France, Malian artist Fatoumata Diawara has a red and black scarf and stole combination worn around her, matching her hair. If you’ve seen photos of the star singer-composer and guitarist all the way from her 2011 breakout album Fatou to her 2023 album London Ko, you know that Diawara is always vibrant, in song, in person and clearly, in style as well.

Speaking to Rolling Stone India ahead of her appearance in India, the artist says Indians, like Africans, have “no fear of colors.” She adds with a smile, “In Europe, people discuss a lot about colors. They are quite shy with the colors, but in India everything is colorful and I love that. I feel connected very fast.” Of course, there’s also the food (“I don’t have a problem to eat there and that’s amazing,” she adds) and spirituality, but it’s not the first time you’d hear that from any artist visiting India.

Diawara was last in the country in 2014, after the success of an album like Fatou. This time around, it’s part of the second edition of Lollapalooza India taking place on January 27th and 28th in Mumbai. “It took too long to go back to India but now I’m excited. It’s never late,” she says. It also marks the first time she’s performing at Lollapalooza anywhere in the world, following which Diawara will perform in Europe and North America through 2024. “Festivals are almost the same in some ways, good vibes, love of sharing new music, diversity… so I’m expecting something like that, since that’s the aim of the festival,” Diawara adds.

There will be songs from London Ko for the most part in her Lollapalooza India set, and Diawara calls the album a “new baby” that is her latest way of adapting Mali’s traditional music into a blend of blues, rock, jazz and more. “I think the Indian audience will love it. We’re going to rock together.” She goes on to describe London Ko as a “bridge between global music and African music, trying to have a connection between both things.” She adds, “It’s more free, I’m re-exploring the entire deeper side of Malian music, but at the same time, [keeping] western music [influences]. It’s like a meeting between two worlds. So good energies, good vibration.”

From one perspective – the Malian side, that is – London Ko reiterates just why the world is drawn to the region’s rhythms, styles and stories. Right from Vieux Farka Toure to Ballake Sissoko and Madou Sidiki Diabate to Songhoy Blues, Malian artists have often stopped by India for performances. Diawara believes the affinity has a lot to do with how Malian music even today is close to its traditional music. She adds, “Through our instruments, like the kora, n’goni balafon… like in India, you have the sitar that represents the country along with other instruments. We still have older instruments, but we adapt all of them to the modern sound.” Plus, the vocals have often drawn from the blues, which Diawara believes is a universal kind of artform that can be adapted to any kind of music.

Diawara sings in Bambara, one of the native languages of Mali and says it also helps keep her close to her people wherever she takes her music. “I will keep singing in Bambara because it’s important for my ancestors to be represented,” she adds.

One of the strongest allies she’s found along the way has been U.K. artist Damon Albarn, best known for his work in rock band Blur and later, with the animated group Gorillaz. Diawara has regularly worked with Albarn on her material, including London Ko and also sang on Gorillaz’s song “Desole” in 2020. She affectionately calls Albarn her “soul brother.” She adds, “Every time, he [Albarn] brings me something new. He will push me to someplace with the music where I cannot go on my own. He’s like my teacher, because he talks about modern sounds that I cannot reach, which is not my tradition. Damon loves Malian music, he’s one of the biggest fans. Together, we learn from each other.” They’re already working on a new project together, which takes them to South America, according to Diawara. “He respects me a lot and I do respect him and that is very important in our area as a woman and as a songwriter, composer,” she adds.

With that project coming up, touring is still the main focus for Diawara in 2024, along with more videos and collaborative projects. She says, “I’m going to keep promoting the album because it deserves it and I’m still putting a full album out. [I’m] not like the new generation, who put out something every month. When I have an album, it’s usually every five years or so and I take time to really travel, enjoy the stage, grow with the songs.”

Fatoumata Diawara performs at Lollapalooza India, co-produced and promoted by BookMyShow Live, between January 27th and 28th at Mahalaxmi Racecourse in Mumbai. Get tickets here.