Mamadou Diaw taught drums to many budding city musicians passing his love of music on through generations
Mamadou Diaw moved to Liverpool in 1995(Image: Vicki Doyle)
Tributes have poured in after a “fantastic” Liverpool music teacher died. Mamadou Diaw, originally from Kaolack, Senegal, died from lung cancer, with his niece Khoudia Mangane confirming the news.
Mamadou moved to the city in 1995 with his band, instantly falling in love with everything on offer. Following this, many became familiar with the musician as he grew a reputation, teaching generations traditional drums, djembe, sabar, doum doum, and conga or modern drum kit at The Black-e community centre.
It was here, at the Great George Street venue, that Mamadou ran workshops and teaching sessions for many years. Mamadou previously recalled the very first time he touched a drum.
He said he was five-years-old and his mum took to him a friend’s house “full of drums”. He told the BBC: “It hurt my hand when I hit it, but the sound made me happy, and despite being the only drummer in a family of 35 or 36, I knew it was what I was going to do.
Mamadou Diaw appeared on the Africa Oye several times throughout his career(Image: Plast-C)
“I played everywhere, on tables, on chairs, on the ground. Eventually, when I was 10, I made my first drum out of a tomato puree tin, paper and bread. If you chew bread and make it wet, you can mould it around the edge of the tin, it sets like superglue, and makes a very good drum.”
Many will also know Mamadou, a former mechanic, from his work with Africa Oyé. The musician appeared on the Oyé stage a handful of times throughout his decades-long career.
The team behind the annual summer festival in Sefton Park remembered their “dear friend” in a tribute shared online. It reads: “Liverpool-based Mamadou appeared on the Oyé stage several times during his fantastic career and ran a host of drumming workshops for us; many will remember his incredible 2016 set at Oyé with his group, the Libidor Band.
Mamadou Diaw was interested in music from a very young age(Image: Vicki Doyle)
“Mamadou was born in Kaolack, Senegal in 1957. He began playing music at eight-years-old but had to keep it a secret through his teens as his father did not see it as an honourable career path.
“His big international break came in 1995 when Glastonbury came calling. He moved to Liverpool during that subsequent ’95 UK tour with his band and fell in love with the city. Many in the city will have been taught by Mamadou.”
The team also shared several quotes from Mamadou on his experience of settling in Liverpool. According to Africa Oyé, he said: “I loved the place straight away. The people are nice, and everyone knows everyone. And you have more time here – it reminds me of Senegal for that.
“I have time to practice my music here. Because Liverpool is a music place. Music is inside of me. I practice it, and perform it to make other people happy. That’s it. To see other people happy – smiling, having a good time – that’s great.”
Mamadou’s niece, Khoudia Mangane, has created a GoFundMe to raise funds for Mamadou’s repatriation to Senegal. You can donate to it here.
Other tributes have also been shared online in light of the news. Jules Bennett said: “Such a talent and a lovely man too.” Paul Hutchin added: “I remember him from the Black-E years and years ago when I worked there. He used to practice with his drumming workshops. Very nice man.” Ivan Freeman wrote: “A true son of Senegal”, and Maria Love echoed: “Lovely man. Rest in peace.”