Percussion Leader
École De Musique de Kirina – Mali
Karim Diabaté is a Master “Djembéfola” and leader of Kirina’s percussion band that lays down the groove for all of our dance classes at the school. He is a multi instrumentalist, playing both the drum set (dun dun) and the Djembe.
Karim was born on January 3rd, 1981 in Kirina and started playing the Djembe when he was ten years old. He was born to a Griot family, where music is played from early childhood. 90% of the Kirina population is of Griot decent. Griots are the musicians, poets, and peacekeepers in the traditional society.
Karim has played in many bands in Mali’s capital city, Bamako, and in bands from the Wassoulou region of Mali, including the band Mamourou Camara and The Sœur Sidibe Band. Today he is known as one of the best Djembe players at the music school of Kirina.
