Born in Mali into a prominent Jeli (Griot) family of Bamako, Mamadou, widely known as ''Madou,'' is the youngest son of the late Sidiki Diabaté and Mariam Kouyaté. Madou's older brother is the first Grammy-Award winning kora player, Toumani Diabaté. Madou has played the lead kora for some of the best singers and musicians in West Africa, including Kandia Kouyaté, Ami Koita, Baaba Maal, Salif Keita, Sekouba Bambino Diabaté, and many others.
Mariam is Madou's first solo album and it displays not only his amazing talents as an instrumentalist, but also his deep knowledge of the Jeli repertoire. Madou played each of the songs in this album only one time. No second-takes, no editing, no over-dubbing; simply clear, true music from a deep and ancient well.
