RECORDED
BY ANDREA FOGNINI AND DAVIDE LASALA AT STUDIO EDAC, COMO, IT, JANUARY 7TH-10TH, 2025
(TRACKS 3-5-6-7-10-11-12)
BY JOHN KRISCHER & OLIVIER LUDE ASSISTED BY TIM PAYAN AT LABO M, PARIS, FR,
FEBRUARY 18TH-24TH, 2025 AND MAY 18TH-21ST, 2025
MIXED AND ADDITIONAL PROGRAMMING BY STEPHEN SEDGWICK FOR SOLAR MANAGEMENT
AT STUDIO MOCHIMA, LONDON, UK, JULY 16TH TO AUGUST 28TH, 2025
MASTERED BY STUART HAWKES AT METROPOLIS STUDIOS, LONDON, UK, OCTOBER 2ND-20TH, 2025
ALL SONGS WRITTEN BY FATOUMATA DIAWARA,
COMPOSED AND ARRANGED BY FATOUMATA DIAWARA AND -M-
ALL SONGS PUBLISHED BY NARE PRODUCTIONS / LABO M
PRODUCED BY FATOUMATA DIAWARA AND -M-
ARTWORK - MARCELLO PEREGO
GRAPHIC DESIGN - ELEMENT(S)
DJANNE
FATOUMATA DIAWARA - VOCALS
-M- – ELECTRIC GUITAR, DRUMS, BASS, SYNTHS, WURLITZER
JOSEPH CHEDID – SYNTHS, ADDITIONAL PRODUCTION, MODULAR PERCUSSION
TIM PAYAN – BASS PROGRAMMING
OLIVIER LUDE – ADDITIONAL PRODUCTION
MOGO
FATOUMATA DIAWARA – VOCALS, ELECTRIC GUITAR
-M- – ELECTRIC GUITAR, DRUMS, BASS
JOSEPH CHEDID – SYNTH CORDS, MODULAR PERCUSSION
TCHEBA
FATOUMATA DIAWARA – VOCALS
-M- – GUITARS, BASS, PIANO, ORGAN
JOSEPH CHEDID - SYNTHS
MATTEO MARCHESE – DRUMS
SIGUI
FATOUMATA DIAWARA – VOCALS
-M- – GUITARS
JEROME GOLDET – BASS
MARTIN GAMET – PERCUSSION, DRUMS
MASSA
FATOUMATA DIAWARA – VOCALS, ACOUSTIC GUITAR
-M- – ELECTRIC GUITAR
MARILENA MONTARONE - BASS
MATTEO MARCHESE – PERCUSSION, DRUMS
LAHIDOU
FATOUMATA DIAWARA – VOCALS, ACOUSTIC GUITAR INTRO
-M- – ACOUSTIC GUITAR, BASS, PIANO
MATTEO MARCHESE – DRUMS
FALA
FATOUMATA DIAWARA – VOCALS, ACOUSTIC AND ELECTRIC GUITAR
-M- – ACOUSTIC GUITAR, BASS
MATTEO MARCHESE – DRUMS
DENKO
FATOUMATA DIAWARA – VOCALS, ACOUSTIC AND ELECTRIC GUITAR
-M- – GUITARS, DRUMS, BASS, PERCUSSION
FARANA
FATOUMATA DIAWARA – VOCALS, ACOUSTIC GUITAR
-M- – GUITARS, DRUMS
JEROME GOLDET – BASS
TATI BAKARY
FATOUMATA DIAWARA – VOCALS, GUITARS
-M- – ELECTRIC GUITAR
MARILENA MONTARONE – BASS
MATTEO MARCHESE – DRUMS
NDEN
FATOUMATA DIAWARA – VOCALS
-M- – GUITARS, BASS, CELLO SYNTH, WURLITZER
DAVIDE LASALA – ACOUSTIC GUITAR
MATTEO MARCHESE – DRUMS
DJO
FATOUMATA DIAWARA – VOCALS
-M- – GUITARS
JEROME GOLDET – BASS
FRANK MANTEGARI – DRUMS
Massa is a deeply personal album.
This album would not have been possible without all those who contributed to it, each in their own way, through their commitment and the place they hold in my life.
I pay a heartfelt tribute to my late father. His love continues to guide me every day. This album carries his memory and the light he left within me.
I thank the Eternal, who makes all things possible.
Thank you to the musicians, the sound engineers, and all the artistic and technical teams who brought these songs to life with such sensitivity and generosity.
Thank you to my brother, M. Chedid, for the sharing, creativity, and trust.
Thank you to No Format for its support and loyalty.
Thank you to my children and my family, to my loved ones, and to all those who supported me, both in the shadows and in the light.
And thank you to you, who listen.
May Massa accompany you, soothe you, and uplift you.
With gratitude,
Fatoumata Diawara
A powerful and visionary voice on the African music scene, Fatoumata Diawara has built an exemplary career. Following a series of collaborations and a rich journey through both cinema and music, the Malian artist affirms her commitment and open-mindedness in her latest album.
A multi-faceted artist, Fatoumata Diawara first gained attention for her talents as a dancer in her father’s troupe, where she performed the incredible didadi dance. It was cinema that later revealed her to the world, with the film Sia, le rêve du python by Dani Kouyaté, in which she played the title role. Fleeing a forced marriage, she spent six years traveling the world with the Royal de Luxe company. Initially humming backstage, the director, Jean-Luc Courcoult, suggested she do the same on stage. In 2007, her voice carried her into the role of the witch Karaba for the musical based on Michel Ocelot’s animated film Kirikou and the Sorceress. Then, encouraged by Rokia Traoré, she learned the guitar and began singing her songs in Parisian bars.
Revealed by her first album Fatou in 2011, the singer won over audiences with her ability to reveal the intimate through her folk guitar, blending Wassoulou tradition with more Western funk influences. Fatoumata Diawara is also defined by her unwavering commitment. In 2013, she gathered forty Malian artists for Mali Ko, responding to the crisis her country was facing. In 2018, she sent a vibrant message with Fenfo, a title that could be translated as "something to say." The following year, her nominations for the Grammy Awards and the Victoires de la Musique crowned this ascent, confirming her status as a leader. Her music transcends genres: afrobeat, jazz, electro, pop, and rock intertwine with rare ease, while remaining anchored in Mandinka rhythms.
In 2023, Fatoumata marked a major discographic return with London Ko, an ambitious album driven by striking collaborations, notably with Damon Albarn. This creative bond, initiated on the Africa Express stage in 2012 and extended with the Gorillaz track Désolé in 2020, unfolds fully here and illustrates her dedication to musical sharing and cultural diversity. The album also bears witness to her taste for bold crossovers, as evidenced by her collaboration with Disclosure on Douha (Mali Mali).
In 2025, she reconnected with the adventure of the Lamomali collective, an emblematic project of dialogue between Mali and contemporary music initiated by -M-. A central figure of the collective since its inception, she embodies the Mandinka soul and contributes to a new artistic chapter driven by concerts and new creations, celebrating transmission, fusion, and the strength of the collective. Fatoumata Diawara also makes history by becoming the first Black woman to sign a signature guitar with Gibson Epiphone in January 2026. This iconic signature recognizes her deep connection to the instrument, her artistic influence, and her role as an inspiring figure, paving the way for new generations of female musicians.
She is currently preparing her next studio album, Massa, scheduled for release in 2026. A deeply personal and introspective work, this album explores the balance between her life as an artist and her role as a mother, while addressing the ills that permeate our societies. Massa is also an album of transmission, faith, and memory, featuring a tribute to her late father, whose love continues to accompany her story and family heritage. The album straightforwardly addresses the issues facing our societies: the deterioration of human relationships, betrayal, disappointment, and jealousy, particularly within polygamous families. Through songs steeped in transmission and wisdom, Fatoumata Diawara invites everyone, rich and poor alike, to learn to appreciate life without getting lost in grievance, reminding us that no one escapes their destiny. Massa is also an album of gratitude and memory, carried by faith, and featuring a vibrant tribute to her late father, whose love continues to accompany her.
Book your tickets for the MASSA Tour: here
