Cheka Katenen Dioubaté is a talented Guinean singer from the Lower Guinea region. Originating from a well-known family of griots, Mandinguese music and traditions flow in her veins since her tender childhood. With a powerful and enchanting voice, she became known for her flaming interpretations of the traditional music of her country, brilliantly blending secular sounds with contemporary influences.
A true cultural ambassador, Cheka has travelled scenes around the world, fascinating viewers with her captivating stage presence and unwavering commitment to preserving Guinea’s musical heritage. Her atypical journey and her artistic versatility, which also led her to the cinema, make her an emblematic figure of the new generation of African artists, proud of her roots but resolutely looking to the future.
Introduction
Born in Lower Guinea, Cheka Katenen Dioubaté is a Guinean singer whose powerful voice and outstanding talent for performing traditional music in her country have driven her fame. Born in a family of griots, she grew up in a rich musical environment, bathed from an early age in the centuries-old rhythms and songs of Guinea. Her career demonstrates an unwavering commitment to the preservation and promotion of the Guinean culture, making her a true ambassador of African traditional music on the international stage.
Childhood
Born into a family filled with music and cultural traditions, Cheka Katenen Dioubaté is the daughter of Bangaly Dioubat, a renowned griot master, and Fatoumata Kourouma, a mother who passed on to her daughter the love of dancing. From an early age, she was immersed in the enchanting melodies and rhythms of her people, the Manding people of the ancient city of Kankan.
In the Manding culture, children born into musical families are encouraged to perpetuate cultural traditions and to occupy an honorable place in society. So Cheka bathed in an environment where music and dance were an integral part of her daily life, inspiring her to follow in the footsteps of her ancestors.
Musical career
Trained with great masters of traditional dance in Guinea, Cheka Katenen Dioubaté has developed a unique style, impressed with passion and fervor. Her powerful and enchanting voice, combined with her captivating stage presence, made her stand out in the music industry and conquered the hearts of African and international audiences.
In 2007, she began her professional career and released her first album, "Bimokho", followed by several other songs such as "Destinée", "Dielilou" and "Dakan". His compositions skillfully blend traditional Mandingual sounds with contemporary influences, creating a unique and enchanting fusion.
Alongside hher musical career, Cheka Katenen Dioubaté has also made incursions into the world of cinema, demonstrating her versatility and commitment to the arts of the spectacle. She has appeared in several films and series, adding a new string to her bow.
Discography
Albums
- Destiny N'Ladia (2020)
- Destiny Ikelenta (2020)
- Diagne (2019)
- Dakan (2016)
- Dielilou (2015)
- Bimokho (2007)
Singles
- C'est Officiel (2023)
- N'soumbou (2023)
- N'biffe (2022)
- Fausses Promesses (2021)
- Soule Soule (2020)
- Marafangny (2019)
Collaborations
Cheka Katenen Dioubaté has collaborated with many renowned artists, including Aly 100 Sons with whom she released the single "Marafangy" in 2019. She also worked with Hadja Kouyaté on the song "Doucement".
Private life
For a long time, Cheka Katenen Dioubaté and Aly 100 Sons have been singing and shooting together,ining a very intimate collaboration that has fuelled rumors of a love relationship. However, the singer publicly denied this information during a concert on December 31st, stating that Ali 100 Sons was only a stage acolyt.
In May 2018, Cheka Katenen Dioubaté first displayed her husband, an elderly man with whom she lives in Canada. At the December 31st concert, she mentioned her choice to marry a "white old man", explaining that she was living her life as she liked, like many other women today.
Although little is known about his family life, Cheka Katenen Dioubaté seems to have found a balance between his artistic career and his personal life, leading a discrete existence away from the spotlight.
Conclusion
With its enchanting voice and exceptional talent, Cheka Katenen Dioubaté has established itself as an indispensable figure of traditional Guinean music on the international stage. Her journey testifies to an unwavering commitment to preserving and promoting the rich culture of her country, making her a true ambassador of Mandingue music.
Despite the challenges encountered, including the lack of professional structures and men of confidence in the cultural field of Guinea, Cheka Katenen Dioubaté has managed to persevere and make her art shine around the world. Her unique style, mixing traditional sounds with contemporary influences, has seduced an audience eager to discover the musical treasures of West Africa.
Today, Cheka Katenen Dioubaté continues to inspire and move its audience, perpetuating the cultural heritage of her ancestors while embracing modernity. Her powerful voice resonates as an echo of the richness and diversity of Guinean music, inviting melomans around the world to let themselves be carried by her enchanting melodies.
