Come Hear The Rich West African Sounds of Mamadou Diabate
by Jaclyn Reynolds

Come experience the compelling world music of the Mamadou Diabate ensemble where the sounds of ancient instruments come together with the richness of West African tradition and the freshness of Grammy nominated kora player Mamadou Diabate. Mamadou Diabate and his ensemble are touring the state as part of the Ohio Arts Council’s Summer International Music and Performing Arts in Communities Tour (IMPACT).

Mamadou Diabate Ensemble will perform five shows, July 12-24, 2008. Performance locations include Columbus, Put-in-Bay, Bryan, Millersburg, Ironton and Chillicothe. All performances are free and open to the public.

IMPACT is presented by the Ohio Arts Council (OAC) in partnership with the Ohio Arts Presenters Network (OAPN) with support from Arts Midwest and the National Endowment for the Arts.

The ensemble is made up of Mamadou Diabate playing the kora, Balla Kouyate on balafon, Ibrahima “Kolipe” Camara on percussion and Mawuena Kodjovi on bass.

Since 2000, Mamadou Diabate has released three CDs, one of which, Behmanka (World Village), was nominated for a Grammy in 2005.

Summer IMPACT will feature educational outreach programs in each community in addition to the performances. For more information visit the Ohio Arts Council Web site at www.oac.state.oh.us, call 614/466-2613 or e-mail kathy.cain@oac.state.oh.us.

Since 1998, IMPACT has been bringing international artists to Ohio each fall for a statewide tour of places of worship. The Ohio Arts Council and the Ohio Arts Presenters Network began their unique partnership in with the presentation of Barocco Andino, a Chilean music ensemble. In following years, the OAC brought international artists from a variety of countries to Ohio for a statewide tour of churches and synagogues. In 2004, the OAC, OAPN and Arts Midwest partnered to create Summer IMPACT. Summer IMPACT continues the tradition of exposing new audiences to art forms from around the world through performances and festivals that unite communities around the state. IMPACT is designed to bring the best international performing arts groups to audiences in Ohio.

The Ohio Arts Council is a state agency that funds and supports quality arts experiences to strengthen Ohio communities culturally, educationally and economically.

VIEW MAMADOU DIABATE ENSEMBLE BIOGRAPHIES

Columbus, Ohio
Saturday, July 12, 7 p.m.
Central Community House
1150 E. Main Street
Presented by Transit Arts
www.transitarts.com
614/252-3157 ext. 128

Put-in-Bay, Ohio
Tuesday, July 15, 7 p.m.
Perry’s Victory and International Peace Memorial
Downtown Put-in-Bay
Presented by Put-in-Bay Arts Council and Put-in-Bay
Chamber of Commerce
www.pibarts.com
419/285-2832

Bryan, Ohio
Friday, July 18, 7 p.m.
Downtown Bryan
One Courthouse Square
Presented by Bryan Chamber of Commerce
www.bryanchamber.org
419/636-2247

Millersburg, Ohio
Saturday, July 19, 7 p.m.
Courthouse Lawn
1 E. Jackson Street
Presented by Historic Downtown Millersburg
www.historicdowntownmillersburg.com
330/674-3955

Ironton, Ohio
Tuesday, July 22, 7 p.m.
Mains Rotunda at Ohio University Southern
1804 Liberty Avenue
Presented by Briggs Lawrence County Public Library,
Ironton Council for the Arts
and Ohio University Southern Campus Library
www.southern.ohiou.edu
740/533-4600

Chillicothe, Ohio
Tuesday, July 24, 7:30 p.m.
Majestic Performing Arts Center Courtyard
45 E. Second Street
Presented by Majestic Theatre and Pump House Gallery
www.majesticchillicothe.org
740/772-2041

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