The polio-stricken Issiaka Diakite was 15 when Bob Marley died in 1981. This was a decisive moment for the young man. He decided, there and then, that reggae was African music. Issiaka Diakite grew up in the poor part of town in Treichville, in Abidjan. Musically speaking, he was strongly...
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The polio-stricken Issiaka Diakite was 15 when Bob Marley died in 1981. This was a decisive moment for the young man. He decided, there and then, that reggae was African music.
Issiaka Diakite grew up in the poor part of town in Treichville, in Abidjan. Musically speaking, he was strongly influenced by another boy, Seydou Kone, better known as reggae artist Alpha Blondy, who sang in the local Dioula tongue. Young Issiaka became a member of the Les Freres Keita singing group and made a cassette with them. In 1990 he recorded his first sole album, "Rahman", under the artistic name of Ismael Isaac. The album was produced by none other than Ibrahim Sylla. In 1993 came "Taxi Jump" and later, in 1997, "Treich Feeling".
Ismael Isaac sings in five languages: Mandinka, Bambara, Malenke, Dioula and French.
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