Multiple award-winning, internationally renowned guitarist and singer Alpha Yaya Diallo, from Guinea in West Africa, is one of the hottest acts on the world music scene. Now based in Canada, he’s earned a matchless reputation for the excellence of his musicianship and the excitement of his live shows. Diallo is a multi-talented artist. His dexterous acoustic and electric guitar-playing, with its fluid melodic lines and compelling grooves, places him in the front ranks of African axemen. By successfully uniting the traditional and the contemporary in African music, Diallo has carved out a niche beside such luminaries as Salif Keita. Over time he’s earned more Canadian awards than he can count. In recent years, Diallo has criss-crossed North America many times, garnering praise at major concert venues and at an ever-increasing number of world music, folk, and other festivals. He’s shared the stage with the likes of David Lindley and reggae stars Jimmy Cliff, Third World, and Burning Spear. Diallo was a member of the hugely successful African Guitar Summit concert held in Toronto, and the resulting CD gained another JUNO. A documentary about Diallo and his music, The Best of Both Worlds, was broadcast by CBC. He’s also written and performed music for several major films.