Frank Bessem's Musiques d'Afrique: Zani Diabaté & le Super Djata Band

Frank Bessem's
Musiques d'Afrique:

Zani Diabaté & le Super Djata Band
(Mali)

Musiques d'Afrique
Musiques du Mali

Zani Diabaté, prominent guitar player in the Super Djata Band, one of the most popular bands from Bamako, joined the Ballet National in 1963, where he sang, danced and played guitar, kora, balafon and percussion. In 1969, he formed the Super Djata Band. The sound of Super Djata, based on Bambara rhythms and melodies, is highly coloured by the outstanding guitar playing by Zani Diabaté.
Since the late 1980s, band members Dounanké Koita and Bamba Dembélé left the Super Djata Band and started solo careers.
Although Zani didn't release any CD since a long time, he still plays regularly with Flany in the Albatros club in Bamako.

Band members in 1987:
Daouda "Flany" Sangaré (lead vocals), Aliou Fané (vocals), Mamadou "Johnny" Diabaté (vocals), Dounanké Koita (guitar), Abou Camara (bass), Bamba Dembélé (congas), Bakary Diabaté (percussion), Lamoussa Diabaté (drums) and Mamadou "Gorguy" Sylla (sax).

Born: 1947.
Style: bambara.

Discography:

Title	Year	Label	Remarks
Ni Zani Mana	200?	Mali K7 S.A.	Cassette
Super Djata	1988	Mango CID 9899	First release in 1985 by Milady Music
Live	1987?	Milady Music 10023	Recorded in March 1987 in Amsterdam
Vol. 3	19??	Omogidi	LP
Vol. 2	19??	Super SF 048	Cassette
Le Super Djata Band du Mali - en super forme	19??	Musique Mondiale	LP, late 70s