At only 19 years old, Hawa Diallo, known as Black AD and revealed to the general public through her song “Mali”, is the winner of the RFI 2022 Discovery Prize, among the 10 finalists.
Hawa Diallo, a young Malian singer-songwriter, born in 2003 in the city of three Caymans, Bamako, and known as Black AD, is the new winner of the 2022 RFI Discovery Prize.
Revealed to the general public through her song “Mali”, she won the RFI Discovery Prize, Friday, November 18, 2022, among 10 finalists. This edition had put in competition more than 2,000 young musicians from all regions of Africa.
Black AD’s song “Mali” is a strong message to young people for a return to cultural and traditional values. A song that calls the Malian nation to social cohesion and sacred union around Mali to meet the challenges of the hour.
The young artist also takes advantage of her songs to promote local products, especially Malian cotton, a specificity of the country for ages. Moreover, her particular style of dress, which knew how to marry modernity and tradition, testifies to the richness and ingenuity of Malian craftsmanship.
This distinction reflects both international recognition of the richness of Malian culture and Malian creative genius, a source of pride for the people of this country.