DJ Diaki – also known as ‘Le President’ – is renowned for fusing the high-octane energy of Bamako’s frantic street parties with fast-paced footwork and rumbling drum’n’bass in what has been hailed as the ultimate Afro rave expression. From Berlin’s concrete clubs to small villages on the outskirts of Bamako, he has set dancefloors ablaze. ALICE had the pleasure of hosting the Malian pioneer in 2021, and now he finally returns to our venue for a full-throttle 180 BPM blowout.

“The music is 180 BPM. The style calls itself ‘crazy.’ Even as other club music styles accelerate, will this overtake them all?” — Resident Advisor

With roots in traditional balani music from Bamako’s street parties and his sights set firmly on club ecstasy, DJ Diaki delivers an atomic blend of pounding drum machines, raw vocals and electrified West African cadences. His sound draws connections to South African shangaan electro and Tanzanian singeli – and stretches further into drum’n’bass and footwork. The result is intense, relentless and impossible to stand still to. Diaki has refined his craft for more than 30 years, but his international breakthrough came after his legendary Boiler Room set at Nyege Nyege Festival in 2019, where DJ Marcelle declared him “The discovery of the Century”. Since then, he has taken over stages worldwide – from Roskilde Festival and CTM to Berghain and Le Guess Who – and released a critically acclaimed debut on Nyege Tapes, named Album of the Month by The Guardian.

When DJ Diaki steps on stage, he channels traditional rhythms and pulls the crowd into a collective trance – from Berlin’s concrete temples to small villages outside Bamako. Alongside his performance work, he is head programmer at Sanankoroba Radio, which he co-founded, and a key figure in Mali’s emerging electronic scene. Come experience DJ Diaki’s magical, boundary-pushing rave ritual when he returns to ALICE this May.

Said about DJ Diaki
“The discovery of the century” DJ Marcelle

“DJ Diaki’s debut is a speeding cascade of sound that skilfully re-creates the pounding atmosphere of Malian street party Balani Show.” The Guardian