African kora player Mamadou Diabate will perform a free concert at 7 p.m. Thursday (Oct. 11) at UNC’s FedEx Global Education Center, located at the corner of Pittsboro and McCauley streets.
Diabate has played the kora, an ancient, 21-string West African harp, with contemporary artists in the interest of bringing the sound to new audiences. But he remains rooted in tradition of kora players serving as storytellers and historians.
The performance, part of the Global Education Distinguished Speaker Series at UNC, is cosponsored by the UNC African Studies Center. Diabate also will perform during a reception Friday (Oct. 12) after the free public dedication of the FedEx Global Education Center building, set to begin at 4 p.m.
For more information about Diabate, visit www.eyefortalent.com. For more information on the center, visit www.global.unc.edu.
FedEx Global Education Center contact: Laura Griest, (919) 962-0318