Sekouba Bambino Diabaté was born in1964 in Guinée in the region of Kankan (ߞߊ߲ߞߊ߲߫ ߕߌ߲߬ߞߎߘߎ߲ in N’Ko, the Mande script). At 19, he was good enough a singer to be hired by Bembeya Jazz, the country’s biggest band at the time. He is one of the rare African stars to choose not to pursue an international career but focus on the African market only.