Toumani Diabaté

Toumani Diabaté (/ˌtuˈmɑːˌni ˌdʒɑːˈbɑːˌteɪ/ too-MAH-nee jah-BAH-tay; 10 August 1965 – 19 July 2024) was a Malian kora player. In addition to performing the traditional music of Mali, he was involved in cross-cultural collaborations with flamenco, blues, jazz, and other international styles of music. In 2006, a panel commissioned by The Independent named him one of the fifty best African artists across media. In its obituary, The Times described him as "a bold and innovative musical visionary".