Trio Da Kali

Trio Da Kali brings together three musicians from the Mande culture of southern Mali, all from renowned griot families (hereditary musicians). Through vocals, ngoni and balafon, they preserve the storytelling tradition of the Mande jeli - da kali literally means 'to swear an oath'.

The three members form a conscious griot supergroup. Singer Hawa 'Kassé Mady' Diabaté is the daughter of Mali's greatest traditional singer Kassé Mady Diabaté; her voice inevitably invites comparisons to gospel legend Mahalia Jackson. Bass-ngonist Mamadou Kouyaté is the eldest son of the greatest master of that instrument, Bassekou Kouyaté. Balafon player Lassana Diabaté has developed virtuosic technique playing two balafonos simultaneously.

Their debut solo album Bagola appeared in 2025, bringing together generations of musical and storytelling tradition with influences from jazz, Afro-Mexican music and classical composition. They bridged these traditions earlier in 2017 when they recorded the album Ladilikan with the Kronos Quartet.