Diabate was encouraged by her family to pursue music as a child, and began singing on a local basis when the family moved to Abidjan after her father's death. She was discovered by reggae star Alpha Blondy, who strongly encouraged her and helped set up her first recording. Her music blends traditional Guinean sounds with influences such as zouk and soukous. She became a celebrity in the Ivory Coast and moved to Paris in 1984 to join her cousin, Mory Kante. Her first international release came out in 1989. ~ Steve Huey, Rovi