Fatoumata Diawara is a Grammy-nominated Malian singer-songwriter, guitarist and actress born in 1982 in Ivory Coast to Malian parents, now based in France. She first built a career on stage and screen - including roles in the films Genesis (1999) and Timbuktu (2014) - before turning to music and releasing her debut album Fatou in 2011. Her sound draws on the Wassoulou traditions of southern Mali and weaves in desert blues, Afro-pop and jazz, while her lyrics address social themes with directness. Four studio albums in, she is widely regarded as one of the defining voices in contemporary African music.
Fatoumata Diawara released her fourth studio album Massa on June 5, 2026, on the NØ FØRMAT! label, co-produced with French artist Matthieu Chedid (-M-).
Massa was named Audiophile Album of the Month for July 2026, with critics highlighting Diawara's voice and the album's production quality.
Diawara's Spotify streams rose by 36% during the Cape Town International Jazz Festival in March 2026, where she performed.
Fatoumata Diawara performed at the Barbican Hall in London on May 17, 2025, as part of her ongoing international touring.
Fatoumata Diawara is scheduled to headline L'Olympia in Paris on November 25, 2026.
