African Village Cultural Festival of London 2022: Hip! hip! hip! Hurrah! Paco Diatta, the ambassador of African music especially Senegalese, brandished the “Community Awards”, he has just won it. It was during the 7th Edition of the African Cultural Village Festival, in England, organized Mouss Médias this Saturday, July 16, 2022 that the artist from Casamance, in the south of Senegal, Paco Diatta fired. Among the personalities of the African cultural scene present at this musical Mass such as DJ Sweert or DJ Love Ebongue, the music prodigy succeeds brilliantly in pulling out of the game: the virtuoso of the guitar takes the palm.
Cultural Festival of the African Village
The Depford Park African Village Cultural Festival has kept all its promises. The recent heat waves have not burned the interest it arouses in the African diaspora. For two days, the big African companies and startups will put their suitcases in Depford Park in the English capital. This festival is an opportunity for artists who seek to embrace other horizons. It was a great moment of sharing, of communion around cultural intermingling, African values such as art, African traditions, lifestyles, food and music. This unique multicultural event is held every year in London. It brings together some of the world’s leading cultural figures. Beyond the opportunities it offers, it makes it possible to create links with African creators. All of Africa and especially Casamance had made block around their son this year: Paco Diatta.
Casamance, African Village of London
In front of renowned artists, Paco Diatta has, this Saturday, July 16 in Depford Park in England, caught the attention of the jury of the seventh edition of the Cultural Festival of the African Village. This award is the fruit of “his attention to the communities of Casamance by contributing to the development of Culture.”
Paco Diatta, what a journey!
What do we know about this outstanding artist with multiple caps (composer, guitarist, lead-vocal) who travels the stages of the world with a music that only he has the secret? His name is Oumar Lamine Diatta. He grew up in Ziguinchor, in Casamance in the south of Senegal. We understand his attachment to this region of Senegal. He is currently based in Belgium. Oumar Lamine Diatta, aka Paco Diatta, stands out by accompanying famous artists such as Kymani Marley, Femi Kuti, Eddy Kenzo,… (Sigh. The list is long. Let’s stop there.) on the world’s biggest stages. This subscriber to major world festivals has subtle instrumentalist talents. He plays monstrously well on acoustic guitar and bass guitar to such an extent that he passes for the worthy representative of Casamançaise music. Her naturally hoarse voice lights up when it rises in the treble and gracefully climbs the abrupt notes of several African-sounding musical genres such as mbalax, hip-hop, afrobeat, zouk, reggae, … Able to sing in mandinka, wolof, dioula, French and English, Paco, this former lead-vocal of the band “teeré”, quickly established himself internationally with his collaborations and broke through in just a few albums (Badine, Back to Roots, Hommage à Balla, Paix en Casamance, C’est comme ça). In his albums, he became aware of the importance of peace. The extent of his register explodes on his new E.P “Daffa Doyen” 2021, like a flower on the eve of a rainy season. From the political hotfire “Peace in Casamance” to the afrobeat “That’s how it is”, he invented his musical identity: afrotronix. He is able to shoot arrows against idiotic wars in Africa or the cynicism of African governments. This mix of afro and electro, uppercut words, offers in this varied repertoire moving contrasts.
Paco, a musical genius
Musically speaking, Africa has bright days ahead of it. Talented artists abound. This is yet another distinction that can be added to the long series of awards garnered by the artist. Both in Senegal and abroad. We would get lost in listing them all here. In addition to the last, the 2021 Raaya Musique Awards, the “Community Awards” is even more prestigious than the others.
