Aboubacar "Badian" Diabate: Malian Guitar Master

(For more of Michal's original world music videos visit her site at inter-muse.com)
This video has been a long time coming. The back story: I've known guitarist/writer Banning Eyre for years and of course, his and Sean Barlow's tireless efforts with their baby, Afropop Worldwide. I've followed their travels and travails, and admired their dedication and perseverance. I always wanted to collaborate in some way, and I got my chance when Banning called me up in the summer of 2010 and told me he was going to visit a great guitarist who was in town, to record him for a radio show, and would I like to come along? As we drove up to the Bronx, Banning filled me in on how he had first met Badian, and I got a feeling for why this interview was going to be special for him.
After a rather steep climb up to a rambling house on a hill, we were greeted by the elegantly clad Badian, and his regal wife. Banning set up his gear in the sunny backyard, and recording commenced. As I shot the performance I realized that the technique Badian used was unlike any I had seen before. One hears rippling melodic lines coming out of koras and ngonis, but transferring that sound to the guitar requires a great delicacy and precision utilizing both the up stroke and the down stroke of the "picking" fingers. Badian's technique is utterly fluid in this way. Thank goodness for a good zoom on my camera; I was able to get nice close-ups of his hands.
Badian was in town for a month playing for the various celebrations within the West African community in the Bronx, which at this point is considerable. I can only imagine how wonderful the music must be at these events. but you will never see this kind of thing covered in Time Out or any publications of that ilk. You just have to be hooked into the scene. Banning and Badian had much to say to each other (mostly in French so I got only the gist of many names, and being brought up to date on everyone's doings), so I just concentrated on shooting. When I got back to my house I reviewed the footage and considered how to use it....for my Huffington Post vlog? As an exclusive here on my own site? To post on guitar sites? I was in a quandary. In the midst of this indecision Banning called to say he had footage of Badian from 1996 that he had been saving for all these years and maybe there was a bigger story to be told. Could I hold off on posting until we could put something like that together?
So I held off for over a year. Banning was off and running with countless Afropop Worldwide projects and trips, and working with his own band, Timbila. But after he returned from a music collecting trip to Egypt, he was back with a vengeance, wanting to get the project up and out. So here it is at last, after hours of footage in many formats sifted through, and condensed into 15.5 minutes.

[@winstondaryoue1750]

Look at the satisfaction on their faces. Truly music is food for the soul.

[@dbl2trpl3]

It’s so crazy to hear the 11:26 insane similarities but yet unique character of this to bachata and river dance at the same time. Insane stuff. This is amazing footage.

[@eddyc4603]

Holy Molly... Mali is the gift that keeps on giving. Thank you for the video. Oh I hadn't watched it yet to the end... Fantastic. Merci beaucoup.

[@laurencehortop853]

wow thank you for this beautiful, inspiring video. As a young person quickly falling in love with the vast world of African music, videos like this make my heart yearn to learn more.

[@ultimatetruth9241]

Its beautiful and you are a good man. A few people like you, the world would be a great place to live in. Thank you for sharing. Senegal in Ohio.

[@MichalShapiro1949]

Thank you! I assume you mean Banning, the narrator of the story. I have forwarded your lovely words to him.

[@ultimatetruth9241]

Michal Shapiro absolutely. Tell him all my respect and wish him a long and happy life from Senegal.

[@ousmanediallo-ne6mf]

thanks Banning for all you do for mali music to be known in USA. we love you!

[@zigguytare]

Michal i like it !!!! Thank you very much ! I love AFRIKA !

[@MrGiorgioud]

Malian music is incredible and the guitar style is a source of constant wonder and inspiration

[@UbaIbrahim]

absolutely beautiful music in its original form.

[@ChaosTitties]

Is that first song on anything I can buy? One of the most beautiful piece of music i have ever heard.

[@apuwdm2]

This is SO amazing. Apurva from Pune, India.

[@MichalShapiro1949]

I have forwarded this to Banning. Thanks!

[@218maryland]

Incredible. Incredible video and history documentation of incredible artists. Thank you so much for sharing

[@yelassinacoulibaly]

The music of Faso is an inexhaustible source of sweetness. It allows us to plunge deep inside ourselves and at the same time resonate with our fellow man, Yé Lassina Coulibaly

[@finnlemarinelmusic1]

Thanks so much for making and posting this video, I think it's one of my favourite things! Very inspiring playing

[@spacelion6318]

Amazing original creativity of Africa👌

[@michaelcelentana5374]

This is great. Needs to be said.

[@user-yc4tb2cw8y]

Mali music is one of the best in the world i listen Many man years pure from the soul

[@BeneGain]

Trully amazing thanks for sharing this

[@mike.thomas]

Beautiful. Thank you for posting this.

[@MichalShapiro1949]

Mike Thomas Thanks Mike, I still think of this as one of my most important postings.

[@gortagnan]

Many Thanks to you for getting this onto and into my radar ! Love the sounds and amazing techniques on guitar- Now a new tho' Late Fan...

[@SpillerWilliams]

This was beautiful. It took me to another time and place. Thank you for sharing...

[@tommraz6577]

This is a really lovely video. Thankyou for sharing it. What a wonderful experience for you - the whole story.

[@MichalShapiro1949]

I have forwarded your comment to Banning; it's his story, not mine.

[@IntombiPictures1]

just great feeling - Thanks for this.

[@MichalShapiro1949]

You are most welcome. The big thanks goes to Banning Eyre who got me involved in this project.

[@MpaphiNfandizo]

Thanks for sharing. AMAZING!!!! Beautiful music and playing.

[@Reichglass]

Absolutely awesome. More this less mainstream.

[@cedispesewas3788]

THIS IS BEAUTIFUL!

[@joeowens3381]

Really nice guys ! Smiled all the way through :)

[@sagecreekwitt3301]

Amazing story! You have lived the life bro! Thanks for sharing

[@jimmysteinbeck3391]

12:58 there were so many fricking noises for how few times he plucks a string. Fucjing awesome

[@tuliamenikanyemba454]

Wow! This is awesome, I like it

[@eddyc4603]

You can see him on stage fairly recently if you look up "Ballake Sissoko - Au Centquatre", he is there after the first couple of solo pieces by Ballake.

[@leandrolugo8344]

Mali, land of music

[@nobbelex]

Stunning beauty !

[@TerryTasia7]

wow! so so amazing!

[@ChaosTitties]

5:05 gotta love that !! they're both feeling the groove and its just magic!!

[@nubian147]

Thank you for this vidéo

[@lichalito]

thanks michalshapiro, great job!!

[@MichalShapiro1949]

I could not agree more! Tell everyone you know.

[@OrchestraGold]

Beautiful!!!

[@gahjii]

this is very soothing

[@mikeleza]

Just amazing!!!

[@MichalShapiro1949]

yes, I agree. Glad you enjoyed it ;-)

[@Womble1252]

6:25 holy smokes i love it. Great vid cheers

[@MichalShapiro1949]

This is from Sam Dickey a mighty fine guitarist who has studied extensively in Mali: First song: low e tuned up to f and b tuned up to c, capo at the 9th fret Second song: low e tuned up to f and b tuned up to c, capo at 6th fret Third song: standard tuning, capo at 4th fret

[@JahNgomba-ir2zi]

Are the any tabs for the second song ?

[@drogoscg1]

Just as good as Spanish guitar. fast fingers and a mind that knows where to go.

[@chrisperera2731]

Love this!

[@IFtiFti]

thank you very much :) that was nice ^^

[@sriflute7318]

I love the guitar

[@zigguytare]

J'aime ! l 'Afrique c'est magique !!!!!! Zigguy

[@bababocoum4989]

bravo bravo!

[@TheImmortalSorrow]

HIS MOTHAFUCKIN FINGEEEH, OH BOY, SO SLICK.!!

[@robertmukiibi2632]

indeed

[@PharaohEagleOwl]

First song is called "Alla lake"

[@JahNgomba-ir2zi]

And the second one ?

[@touramakansy2878]

Mandeng 🇲🇱🇲🇱🇲🇱💪🏿💪🏿💪🏿

[@touramakansy2878]

N'goni❤❤❤🥰🥰

[@jackthegod9988]

Mainstream medias won’t show this

[@MichalShapiro1949]

Mica, I will forward your question to a friend who might do that.

[@sissiesissoko488]

I diabaté 👍👍👍

[@tristan583]

This shows how Africa music don’t get any recognition at all on world stages , most of these guys were incredibly talented but didn’t even lived off their talents

[@gypsyguitars]

what model is that Yamaha guitar ? is that an all maple sides 'n' back ???

[@rasputin2685]

what is the name of the second track??

[@Taxidermistification]

How do they learn to play like that and without reading music either?

[@SamDickey]

Taxidermistification mandé musicians usually learn by watching others play, imitating what they do, and participating in music-making from an early age. as you can see, this method works very well! check out lucy durán's film "growing into music" for more on this.

[@giamma3605]

Hi ! anyone knows if the ngoni player is Kandiafa?

[@MichalShapiro1949]

the Ngoni player is Adama Tounkara.

[@AlphaR18Pmale]

Whoa dude slow down

[@ivanirjosedeoliveira6331]

Ótima músicas! Onde conseguir partitura da música africana?

[@MichalShapiro1949]

It is not hard to find. Are you in Portugal?

[@ivanirjosedeoliveira6331]

Brasil

[@tuckedinshirt]

Damn boy gettin off!

[@charleswishartaustin]

why are there no recordings of this guy available or am I wrong? thnx

[@MichalShapiro1949]

+charles austin I bet there are plenty of recordings available in Bamako, where he lives, but these things are not sold here, at least not through the usual channels. The way the music business has restructured, there are fewer and fewer places to find this sort of music in the USA, unless you can find a specialty brick and mortar store that has not gone under. If there is a west African enclave anywhere near where you live there might be a store that sells to the locals, which might carry something.

[@charleswishartaustin]

maybe Awesome Tapes from Africa has something. This guy is one of the best guitar players in the world and I need to hear more! Thanks

[@MichalShapiro1949]

+charles austin Yes, I was going to suggest Brian's site! good luck - he definitely has an Awesome collection!

[@MITCHY_B_2003]

Hey ! I have a Roland jazz chorus ! I’m somebody !!

[@MichalShapiro1949]

You get the award for cutest comment ;-)

[@nanasidibe4381]

Hi if you wish to take contact with this musician and his wife tanks for keeping me abreast

[@dr.elhadjaboubakrysy7340]

nana sidibe Please help me to get his contact. Thank you so much

[@kaousibyofficiel2487]

🇲🇱Malien et fier

[@nilaontintain]

wow......is there anyone who offers skype lessons to get some instruction on this style?????

[@IFtiFti]

are the guitar tuned in a special way? would be nice if you answer soon :)

[@nanasidibe4381]

le mari de néné soumano

[@frankewanmale4067]

You found Lucifers kin. This brother can play.