Fatoumata Diawara

Malian singer-song writer / actress

Hailed as one of the most vital standard-bearers of modern African music, Fatoumata Diawara takes her artistry to fresh and thrilling heights on her new album FENFO.

Boldly experimental yet respectful of her roots, it’s a record that defines her as the voice of young African womanhood – proud of her heritage but with​ a vision that looks confidently to the future and a message that is universal.

She has also worked courageously as a social activist, campaigning against the trafficking and sale of black migrants in Libyan slave markets and recording the song “Djonya” (it means ‘slavery’ in Bambará) in which she restates the universal, but often sadly disregarded, truth that we all belong to the same human race regardless of color, ethnicity or religion. The video accompanying the song has so far had 30,000 views and can be seen here.

Fatoumata Diawara is part of our 16 WOMEN Restoring the Earth 2022 edition