Batuki Music Society and Alliance Française Toronto present Djely Tapa on Saturday February 7th at the Spadina Theatre at 8:00 pm. From the Voice of Ancestors to the Voice of the Future.
Djely Tapa was born in the Kayes region of western Mali into an illustrious family of griots (Djely in the Malinke language – heirs of centuries-old artistic traditions). Her mother Kandia Kouyaté is renowned as one of the great voices in Mali, while her father Djely Bouya Diarra was a legendary dancer and singer. Djely Tapa has been singing, dancing and telling stories since childhood. After moving to Canada, she sang alongside numerous artists across the country and abroad. At the same time, Djely Tapa directed several projects that allowed her to preserve and promote classical Mandingo traditions and to explore diverse artistic approaches. In 2018 she decided to embark on a solo career, taking on the double challenge of being both an ambassador of Djeliya – the narratives, music and oral traditions of the griots – and an explorer pursuing new musical forms.
Her debut album Barokan evokes the African blues and the vibrations of the Sahel with electronic elements and was awarded the 2020 Juno for Global Music Album. Her second album, Dankoroba was awarded the 2025 Juno for Global Music Album of the Year. Her songs convey a message of strength and hope, giving voice to the struggles of the marginalized. She sings mainly in Malinke, Bambara and Kassonke, and sometimes in French. Djely Tapa is a spokesperson for several causes, especially those that promote gender equality and support women of African descent.
Saturday February 7, 2026
Spadina Theatre, Alliance Française
24 Spadina Road, Toronto
Doors: 7:40 pm
Concert: 8:00 pm
Advance Tickets: $14.11 – $20.50
https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/donkoraba-par-djely-tapa-tickets-1424490753189
https://batukimusic.com/site2/en/eventscat/concerts/djely-tapa-feb-7-2026/
Batuki Music Society gratefully acknowledges the support of Canadian Heritage, Ontario Arts Council, Toronto Arts Council and Alliance Française de Toronto.
