Fatoumata Diawara honours heritage and activism at Cape Town Jazz Festival

On a warm Saturday afternoon in Cape Town, Malian singer-songwriter and actress Fatoumata Diawara brought her unique blend of traditional and contemporary African music to the Cape Town International Jazz Festival. During her visit, she spoke about the strong ancestral energy she feels in South Africa, noting that the calm and love she experienced there made her feel at home. Diawara emphasised the importance of staying rooted in African musical traditions while presenting them to an international audience, citing Malian icons such as Toumani Diabaté, Salif Keita, and Ali Farka Touré as inspirations. Her performances combine high-energy music with symbolic elements, including traditional beads, painted body markings, and the Gouro Zaouli mask from Côte d’Ivoire, which honour her ancestral heritage. Beyond her artistry, Diawara is a committed activist, using her platform to advocate against female genital mutilation (FGM), a practice she personally endured. Through her music and storytelling, she encourages dialogue, challenges harmful traditions, and celebrates African cultural richness. For her, music is a spiritual, communal, and political act, capable of conveying difficult truths and fostering understanding across cultures.