YORO DIALLO "CEKOROBANI", ARTIST OF THE WASSOULOU
The committed talent

Virtuoso of the kamelen n’goni, inspired type-setter and interprets with a cordial voice, Yoro Diallo called "Cièkorobani" (read Tièkorobani) is today a reference for the artists of Wassoulou, his native region. Rare are today these celebrities of the "Was" (songs and rhythms of Wassoulou) who resist temptation to dip into his rich repertory.
"Among the artists of Wassoulou, some can say that they have more success and of notoriety than me. Some others will say that they are richer than me. But, no one can honestly maintain that he’s more talented than me or that he doesn’t owe me anything ", defies Yoro to locate his place in the music of Wassoulou.
And he quotes higgledy-piggledy Oumou Sangaré, Ramata Diakité, Samba Diallo, and late Seydou Camara. Much drew at least a rhythm, a melody or a step of dance in his repertory. A rich repertory made up by dint of research and labour. Many young revelations of the "Was" passed by his school, especially for the kamelen n’goni. And that is a great ground of pride for this artist who is at the same time feared and hated in this world.
He owes his nickname "Cièkorobani (the old man)", to his early wisdom. "When I began singing, my topics were so relevant and so evocative and provocative that it surprised the old people. They thus said that I was older than my age because I expressed like an old man", he explains. This wisdom enabled him to know quickly that his destiny was related to music. Very early, he took an interest in the kamelen n’goni, a traditional lute with six strings. He made of the international promotion of this instrument his principal mission. "Before me, there were people like late Allata Broulaye who gave some popularity to the kamelen n’goni.
But, I think I’m the first who use it with modern instruments", he said. He will carry out this mission from Wassala (his native village located at 15 km from Yanfolila) to Abidjan passing by Bamako.
Unimaginable success
And now, the kamelen n’goni became an essential instrument to Malian music. And Yoro Diallo played an important role in that. "Nobody could imagine that the kamelen n’goni could have so much world success to eclipse mythical traditional instruments like the Donso n’goni", explains the virtuoso. But, this success won him much adversity and animosity in the circle of the Donso n’goni players and other artists who was eclipsed by the talent of this ambitious young artist.

Prolific discography
This mission was facilitated by the genius of Yoro in composition and arrangement. That’s why he has only successful albums: "Bèmankan", the first of the series was released at the beginning the Nineties, and "le retour de Yoro" the last one was released last year and still have a phenomenal success. "The first album really launched me in the show biz. And the last one confirms my place of tenor in Wassoulou", specifies the Ace of the kamelen n’goni.
This uncontested talent has a rich discography of eight albums including two works in duet with late Ténin Sidibé (his first wife) and Samba Diallo (his younger brother).

Experience to share
"My wish is to share my experience and my knowledge with all those who admire me. All the more as I’m the one who win the more because they always bring me something more being able to enrich me ", he estimates concerning this kind of experiences on the albums.
That breaks the allegations of selfishness some tried to stick on him. After the sumptuous "Badenya", Yoro announces another album with Samba Diallo, his junior brother, for soon. Totally engaged, Ciékorobani knows pertinently that many hate him today and do their best to tarnish his image. It’s not surprising for anyone who knows the man or had already had the privilege to chat with him. Ciékorobani is not afraid and do not hesitate to say in the microphone what the others murmur.
He proved it during the recent visit of the president (April 15, 2004), Amadou Toumani Touré, in Yanfolila, the capital of Wassoulou. "I told ATT that coming in Wassoulou is a real martyrdom in any season. And we are frequently cut off from the rest of the world because the locality does not have telephone. In short, Wassoulou has no adequate infrastructures to develop his immense agro-mining potentialities", he explains; messages contained in the new album, "Wassolon Sira", of Djagawara Sali (his wife) soon available on the market.
He also told the president, "You sought the presidency because you were conscious that the citizens trusted in you. And they reaffirmed it by choosing you. But, this confidence must be deserved by sharing the concerns of the populations...".

Shared concerns
A message completely received by the president who promised at least 50 million FCFA (€ 76.225,00) for the amelioration of the living conditions of the populations, especially the women and the young people. The construction of the road connecting Yanfolila to Bougouni is from now on registered among the priorities of the government. "We owe everything to Wassoulou. We cannot any more only say: I am of Wassoulou and limit ourselves to that. It is necessary to fight for the development of this region and the amelioration of the living conditions of its populations. We can do it because, with our success and all our relations, we can open much doors today. We can mobilize in favour of Wassoulou". As we see, Cièkorobani does not hesitate to tell the truth. "I understand when one tells me his problem with sincerity and frankness. But, that is not used to spare someone on the basis of lie".

Piracy
"Music brought me everything in terms of knowledge and relations in Mali and throughout the world. It allowed me to travel a lot and discover a lot of things", recognizes Yoro Diallo. Unfortunately, his happiness is only that because he has never profited fully from the financial repercussions of the huge success of his albums because of piracy. "The end of this phenomenon is only in the hands of the authorities, especially at the Malian Office of authors’ right (BUMDA). If this service really plays its part fully, the pirates will reconvert into other activities. But, it is difficult to find the needle you hide under your feet... ".

Soon pleasant surprises
At 43 years old, married and father of two children, Yoro says that he hasn’t shown the totality of his immense talent yet. And he promises, certainly in complicity with Mali K7 SA, lot of pleasant surprises to his fans. To displease to his detractors, Cièkorobani is a great artist who has several cords on his bow and his quiver is not ready to go empty.
King Moseto