Fatoumata Diawara's debut album, Fatou, was released earlier this year to critical acclaim. Now comes the release of a new music video for the album track "Clandestin," which addresses issues of immigration. "They are called 'illegals,' but I call them warriors as it’s not easy to leave everything behind and to trust in the unknown. In Bambara, we call them nomads," says Diawara. "This song is dedicated to all the brothers who die on this trip and to those who have already left!" Watch the video here.

Following last week's insight on the year's best in music according to Uncut, Mojo, and Paste, which featured several Nonesuch artists, come three more noteworthy year-end lists from Rolling Stone, NPR Music, and American Songwriter. They tip their respective hats to artists including Amadou & Mariam, Dr. John, Randy Newman, Fatoumata Diawara, Jeremy Denk, Lianne La Havas, and Punch Brothers.

The Malian-raised, Parisian singer/songwriter Fatoumata Diawara has been named to TIME's list of "the best in world music this year." "Her debut album Fatou, released in North America in August, is enchanting and blissful," says KEXP's Darek Mazzone, who assembled the list for TIME. "Her well-crafted songs are often light and breezy, but her soulful voice brings a bluesy depth and potency that can stop you in your tracks."

Fatoumata Diawara recently concluded a US tour featuring music from her debut album, Fatou. The Malian-raised, Parisian singer/songwriter made stops across the country, including NYC, where she performed at Pace University’s Michael Schimmel Center for the Arts. There, Diawara spoke with NBC 4 New York’s Nonstop Sound about her tour, her time in the city, and her strong connection to the cultural traditions of Mali. Watch the piece here.

Fatoumata Diawara kicks off her US tour, featuring music from her debut album, Fatou, at the Cityfolk Festival in Dayton, Ohio, tonight, followed by stops in Bloomington, Chicago, New York City, Boston, Washington, DC, New Hampshire, and North Carolina. Her new album is "a joyous mix of vibrant songs about love, politics and empowerment," says the Chicago Sun-Times. "Fatou is a rare gift of a record for fans of African pop, female vocalists and generally outstanding music," raves PopMatters. "Prepare to be smitten." Diawara has just been nominated for a MOBO Award for Best African Act.

Fatoumata Diawara, whose debut album, Fatou, was released in North America late last month, has now released a music video for the album track "Bakonoba." The video was directed by Sam Birt and produced and edited by OLO Creative Farm. Watch it here. Diawara, who was raised in Mali and now lives in Paris, recently completed a five-day tour with Africa Express and will launch a tour of the US on September 20.

Emmylou Harris, Rokia Traoré, Fatoumata Diawara, and Oumou Sangare are participating in 30 songs / 30 days, in which female musicians from around the world have come together to support the Half the Sky movement. Through the 30 songs / 30 days project, one song per day is available to download for the month of September and leading up to the October 1 & 2 premiere of Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide, a four-hour PBS documentary inspired by the widely acclaimed book of the same name by Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn. 

Singer/songwriter Fatoumata Diawara’s debut album, Fatou, is out now in North America. Diawara has been receiving rave reviews since the album’s release in the UK and Europe last year. The Telegraph says “this stylish debut doesn’t put a foot wrong,” while the Times of London says “the air of wistful, understated beauty draws you in,” and Mojo calls her a “spell-weaving new voice.” The New York Daily News includes Fatou among the Top 10 Things on CD this week. Diawara will tour the US in September, following a tour of the UK with Africa Express.

Singer/songwriter Fatoumata Diawara’s debut album, Fatou, will be released in North America on August 28, 2012, and is now available to pre-order in the Nonesuch Store. Diawara will tour the US this fall. She has been receiving rave reviews since the album’s release in the UK and Europe last year. The Telegraph says “this stylish debut doesn’t put a foot wrong"; Pitchfork calls it "beguiling." Diawara uses elements of jazz, pop, and funk along with her ancestral Wassoulou tradition in her songwriting. John Paul Jones, Toumani Diabate, and Tony Allen all make guest appearances on Fatou.

Singer/songwriter Fatoumata Diawara’s debut album, Fatou, will be released in North America by World Circuit / Nonesuch Records on August 28, 2012. Diawara has been receiving rave reviews since the album’s release in the UK and Europe last year. The Telegraph says “this stylish debut doesn’t put a foot wrong"; Pitchfork calls it "beguiling." Diawara uses elements of jazz, pop, and funk along with her ancestral Wassoulou tradition in her songwriting. John Paul Jones, Toumani Diabate, and Tony Allen all make guest appearances on Fatou. Watch the official video for the album track "Bissa" here.

Cal Performances at the University of California, Berkeley, has announced its 2012–13 season, which will feature Kronos Quartet as the season's Artists in Residence; Philip Glass's groundbreaking work with Robert Wilson, Einstein on the Beach; Fatoumata Diawara's debut; a Sérgio & Odair Assad concert with Paquito D'Rivera; and the return of the Mark Morris Dance Company with the holiday favorite Hard Nut. Subscription sales begin on Friday.

Fatoumata Diawara has won the 2012 Songlines Music Award for Newcomer of the Year for her debut album, Fatou. The album was released in the UK to great critical acclaim on World Circuit. She was introduced to North American audiences with the release of her debut EP, Kanou, on World Circuit/Nonesuch Records. "The youthful Malian songbird draws on the Wassoulou tradition of southern Mali," says Songlines. "There's a unique but subtle intensity to her beguiling songs." Chris Thile, with Yo-Yo Ma, Stuart Duncan, and Edgar Meyer, has won the award for Cross-Cultural Collaboration on their album The Goat Rodeo Sessions.