News

Grammy® Nomination Fatoumata Diawara

The nominees for the 2019 Grammys were announced this week, with the Grammys set to hold on February 10, 2019, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Fatoumata Diawara gets a Grammy® nomination for her second solo album Fenfo.  Fenfo demonstrates her impressive musical range of original songs produced by noted French producer Matthieu Chedid. She is nominated along with Seun Kuti's Black Times, Bombino – Deran, and the Soweto Gospel Choir – Freedom. But the joy does not stops here, since the single ULTIMATUM feat Fatoumata Diawara, released but UK duo Disclore, also got a Grammy® Nomination as Best Dance Album of the Year. Congrats to all the nominees. 

Standing ovation @DR Jazz Festival

Omara Portuondo was in charge of the Dominican Republic Jazz Festival closure on Sunday 4th. Recieved with standing ovation, Buena Vista Social Club™ diva performed a set with great Cuban classics along with quartet. 

Je t'aime etc - France

Fatoumata Diawara visited the TV show Je t'aime etc, hosted by Daphné Bürki to talk about her latest release Fenfo. Fatou also performed live the single Nterini. Watch now the full interview here. 

Folker Cover

African singer Fatoumata Diawara is the new cover for Folker lastest issue. Interviewed by Martina Zimmermann, Fatou talks about her new album Fenfo and the announced shows in Germany. Learn more here. 

Omara Portuondo receives a Luna Award in Mexico

Cuba singer Omara Portuondo and Spanish cantaor Diego El Cigala, recieved a Lunas Award granted by Auditorio Luna in 2018 in the category of Traditional Music.

SFJAZZ Gala 2019 honoring Chucho Valdés

SFJAZZ Gala 2019 celebrates Chucho Valdés with the SFJAZZ Lifetime Achievement Award during our most lively and influential fundraiser. For this celebration Chucho will be souranded by great friends such as Irakere 45, Omara Portuondo, SFJAZZ Collective, Stefon Harris, Yosvany Terry, Harold Lopéz-Nussa, Leyanis Valdés, Jessie Valdés, SFJAZZ High School All-Stars Big Band and more. Learn more here.

Songlines Music Award

The Songlines Music Awards are ten years old this year and to celebrate, Songlines, in association with Soundcrash Music, hosted its inaugural Songlines Music Awards ceremony on October 20 at London's Electric Brixton. Angélique Kidjo was presented with the World Pioneer award and after her surprise solo set was joined on stage for a finale with Fatoumata Diawara, singing Miriam Makeba's classic 'Kilimanjaro'. Fatoumata also presented Syrian-born qanun virtuoso Maya Youssef with the Newcomer award, which was sponsored by the Incorporated Society of Musicians. 

Roberto Fonseca III

Roberto Fonseca III tour is about to start. Ten shows in eleven days with sold out in almost all venues for this Fall Tour.

The Goalkeepers Awards 2018

The Goalkeepers campaign of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation honored “heroes who don’t look like heroes you’ve seen in the past/ heroes who were told they wouldn’t last,” in the words of poet and youth activist Aranya Johar, one of the featured 2018 Goalkeepers. The evening event also featured performances by Ed Sheeran, a singer-songwriter from the UK who performed against a backdrop of footage of himself and other Goalkeepers as babies and children, and Fatoumata Diawara, a singer-songwriter from Mali who was joined by the Brooklyn Youth Chorus.

New videoclip BONYA

BONYA means respect in Bambara, and Fatoumata Diawara releases her new videoclip on the Peace International Day. Celebrate it with her music.

New Latin Grammy® nomination for Omara Portuondo

Congratulations to Omara Portuondo for being nominated for the Best Traditional Tropical Album with her latest release "Omara Siempre". The awards will be announced on November 15 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, in Las Vegas.

Roberto Fonseca & Fatoumata Diawara in LA

Both Fatoumata Diawara and Roberto Fonseca learned their craft from old masters: she as a back-up singer for her fellow Malian Oumou Sangaré; he as a pianist with the Orquesta Buena Vista Social Club®.  Diawara is hailed as one of the most vital standard-bearers of modern African music. She takes her artisty to fresh and thrilling heights on her new album, Fenfo. Boldly experimental yet respectful of her roots, Fenfo defines her as the voice of young African womanhood — proud of her heritage but with a vision that looks confidently to the future with a message that is universal. They will be playing in a double bill night at the ACE Hotel in LA. Learn more here.

Dudamel and special guests

Gustavo Dudamel and the LA Phil welcome guests from around the musical world to the Hollywood Bowl this summer – including the legendary Cuban singer Omara Portuondo of Buena Vista Social Club, Cuban pianist Roberto Fonseca and the “Lion of Salsa,” Oscar D’León – for exclusive collaborations that match the orchestra’s versatility with artistic virtuosity. Learn more here.

This is a survivor’s life

In a world of 7bn people there are 1bn immigrants.” This quiet statistic gives way to a storm of emotion in the video for Fatoumata Diawara’s arresting new single, “Nterini”. As the numbers sit in a crisp white font over windblown terrain, the majestic Diawara soon emerges, robed in rich crimson and gold, to tell the story of a young man leaving his home in Africa. The deep yearning of her melody reaches out across a continent, the gravel in her voice echoes that scuffing of the weary refugees’ trainers. Read full article on FT.com.

OMARA SIEMPRE

Renowned Cuban singer Omara Portuondo released her latest album, "Omara Siempre," which showcases a collection of songs with fellow Cuban artists. On her own words, Omara hopes that the international recognition she receives for the album, which features local talents such as Aymee Nuviola, Isaac Delgado, and Alain Perez, would give other Cuban artists a chance to shine. Nearing 90 and still working, Portuondo shows no signs of slowing down with international showcase performances for 2018 and 2019. Listen "Omara Siempre" here.

Sold Out Tour!

The Orquesta Buena Vista Social Club® with Omara Porutondo and Eliades Ochoa performed a sold out tour in South America. With their classic songs and popular hist such as Veinte Años, El Cuarto de Tula o Carretero, the band also premiered their lastes documentary film Buena Vista Social Club™: Adiós.

Omara announces new show in Japan

Omara Portuondo from Buena Vista Social Club™ meets Orquesta De La Luz featuring Roberto Fonseca and Barbarito Torres" will be performing at TOKYO JAZZ 2018 on Sep 2nd (Sunday)! It will be the one and only Omara Portuondo's first collaboration between Japan's leading salsa band, Orquesta De La Luz. Don't miss the exquisite experience this summer in Shibuya.

Amadou & Mariam U.S. Tour

Malian husband-and-wife duo Amadou & Mariam have never let not being able to see slow them down, and have been making joyous music for over 20 years. On 2017’s La Confusion, the pair seamlessly incorporated ’80s synthpop and disco into their afrobeat style, making for one of their most enjoyable records to date. Their live shows are exuberant dance parties and they will be touring in the U.S. with confirmed shows in New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles. Learn more here.

FENFO "Something to Say"

Fenfo (Something To Say), Fatoumata's highly anticipated 2018 sophomore album, is a gorgeous set of original songs produced by noted French producer Matthieu Chedid - M-. Ranging from the infectious dance grooves of "Nan Bel" to the passionate balladry of "Don Do," Fenfo, which also features the acclaimed classical cellist Vincent Segal, is bound to be hailed as a World music and afropop masterpiece.Listen Fenfo here.

An amazing performance @Luna Park

The Orquesta Buena Vista Social Club® played their farewell tour at Luna Park last Friday. Silvina Palumbo from Perfil covered the show and shared soem great pictures. Learn more.