{"id":154926,"date":"2026-03-22T21:00:44","date_gmt":"2026-03-23T01:00:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/panm360.com\/interviews-panm360\/kimi-djabate-mozart-interview-concert-dindin-montreal-balattou-2026\/"},"modified":"2026-03-22T21:04:08","modified_gmt":"2026-03-23T01:04:08","slug":"kimi-djabate-mozart-interview-concert-dindin-montreal-balattou-2026","status":"publish","type":"interviews","link":"https:\/\/panm360.com\/en\/interviews-panm360\/kimi-djabate-mozart-interview-concert-dindin-montreal-balattou-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Kimi Djabat\u00e9: like Mozart, a life dedicated to music"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The singer, balafonist, and guitarist from Guinea-Bissau, Kimi Djabat\u00e9, grew up in a musical village. Indeed, his hometown of Tabato is a small town where most of the inhabitants live off music and have been griots for generations. The artist, who is now based in Lisbon, released the album Dindin <\/em>in 2023, an album I have praised highly right here on this site.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

CRITIQUE OF DINDIN, KIMI DJABAT\u00c9’S ALBUM<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

On April 2, 2026, Kimi Djabat\u00e9 will give a concert at the Balattou club in Montreal, a first for the artist in our city, who was invited by the singer Maritza (who asked him to accompany her at her own event on April 1 at the Lion d’Or<\/strong><\/a>). For his evening at Balattou, we are even told that Daby Tour\u00e9 will be on stage with Kimi! An evening that I am personally very much looking forward to. I talked with Kimi about his youth completely dedicated to music, his coming in Montreal, his collaboration with Madonna, and many other things.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

**Thanks to Jacob Edgar from Cumbancha\/Putumayo who served as an interpreter, as the interview was conducted in Portuguese.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

DETAILS AND TICKETS FOR KIMI DJABAT\u00c9’S CONCERT AT BALATTOU ON APRIL 2, 2026<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

PanM360: Hello Kimi. It’s a first in Montreal. But have you ever been to Canada?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kimi Djabat\u00e9: <\/strong>Once, in Edmonton, for a single concert.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

PanM360: You grew up in a small village in Guinea-Bissau called Tabato, a village of musicians (griots). Everyone there plays music… You hardly had a choice…<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kimi Djabat\u00e9:<\/strong> It’s true that Tabato is a village of griots. It is somewhat the destiny, the social obligation, of its inhabitants to play music. I was surrounded by music throughout my youth. Griots are required to learn at least one instrument and to tell stories with their music. For me, it was the balafon (a type of traditional West African xylophone) that has been my passion from the very beginning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When I was five to eight years old, my parents would take me to play at wedding ceremonies, for example. I became something of a local sensation, they found me very cute with my instrument that I handled quite well. And then, the orders multiplied. Sometimes, I found it difficult. I was woken up at night to travel and play. I brought in income for my family that way, you understand. Sometimes, I wanted to be a child like the others. I never learned to play football (soccer)…<\/p>\n\n\n\n

PanM360: A story like Mozart’s… Have you ever felt like giving up?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kimi Djabat\u00e9: <\/strong>No, never. Nevertheless, around my teenage years, I started listening to Africa 1, a radio station from Gabon. There, there was a program broadcast every week, from 2 AM to 4 AM, and I discovered all sorts of other music. I used my money to buy batteries for the radio so I could listen to my show! Then, my passion was somewhat rekindled. But no, I never really thought about not making music.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

PanM360: You are a griot from Guinea-Bissau. Here in Montreal, we have several griots from Mali or Senegal. Are there significant differences between the traditions of these different countries?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kimi Djabat\u00e9: <\/strong>Not really. All the culture of the griots comes from the ancient Mandingo Empire (or Mali Empire), which encompassed the entire region during the European Middle Ages. It was the colonial forces who subsequently divided this entire region into various countries and brought new languages. For the rest, the sources, the codes, remain the same. In fact, we still frequently speak the same native language, Manding. In fact, it is the language of Tour\u00e9 (Lamine), the director and owner\/founder of Balattou!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n