Epiphone Unveils the Fatoumata Diawara SG: A Historic Signature Model Blending Heritage and Innovation

On The Table Read Magazine, “the best arts and entertainment magazine UK“, Epiphone proudly unveils the Fatoumata Diawara SG, a stunning signature model that fuses Malian heritage with modern versatility, marking a historic milestone as the first Epiphone signature guitar for a woman of colour and inspiring players everywhere to embrace their unique voice on stage and in the studio.

Epiphone has introduced a new signature electric guitar honoring Fatoumata Diawara, the GRAMMY-nominated Afrofuturist guitarist, singer-songwriter, and actress. This model represents a significant achievement as the first Epiphone signature guitar created for a woman of color, highlighting her influence in music and paving the way for greater representation among women and artists of colour.

A Collaboration Rooted in Personal Passion

The Fatoumata Diawara SG draws inspiration from Diawara’s admiration for the Epiphone Muse SG. Through close partnership with Epiphone, she incorporated custom elements that align with her artistic vision and playing requirements. The result is a player-oriented instrument that captures her unique style while delivering reliable performance for both studio and live settings.

Striking Design and Premium Features

The guitar features a mahogany body finished in Ember Red with a distinctive Malian-inspired graphic that celebrates Diawara’s cultural origins. It includes a set mahogany neck with a Custom C profile for comfortable playability, a bound rosewood fretboard equipped with 22 medium jumbo frets and pearloid trapezoid inlays, and gold hardware throughout.

Key appointments include a LockTone Tune-O-Matic bridge, LockTone Stop Bar tailpiece, Epiphone locking tuners, and a Graph Tech nut to ensure excellent tuning stability. The headstock displays the Epiphone logo and Gibson Crown in mother-of-pearl, complemented by a two-ply truss rod cover engraved with her signature in gold. Additional visual accents, such as red pickup rings, Speed knobs, rear control covers, and a toggle switch tip, enhance its bold aesthetic.

Versatile Electronics for Expansive Tones

Equipped with two Epiphone Alnico Classic PRO humbuckers, the guitar offers a range of sounds through modern wiring. Individual volume controls include push/pull coil-splitting for single-coil options, while tone controls allow further customization—one with a push/pull phase switch to access out-of-phase tones when both pickups are selected. This setup provides tonal flexibility suited to diverse genres and performance needs.

Each instrument comes with a hardshell case for protection during travel.

Fatoumata Diawara

Born in Côte d’Ivoire in 1982 to Malian parents, Diawara grew up in Bamako amid a large family where resilience and dance played central roles. She began in film, appearing in early works like Taafé Fanga and La Genèse (recognized at Cannes in 1999), followed by a notable role in Sia, le Rêve du Python. To escape a forced marriage, she relocated to France, where she performed in Antigone at the Théâtre des Bouffes du Nord and toured internationally with the Royal de Luxe company for six years.

In Paris, she immersed herself in a vibrant, cross-cultural environment that shaped her music—blending traditional Wassoulou elements, kora and n’goni sounds, Mandinka rhythms, and griot vocal traditions with electronic textures and global influences. Her debut album Fatou (2011) gained widespread acclaim and led to collaborations with artists including Herbie Hancock, Bobby Womack, Roberto Fonseca, Angie Stone, Yemi Alade, and M.anifest.

Her 2018 release Fenfo earned two GRAMMY nominations: one for Best World Music Album and another for the single “Ultimatum” (with Disclosure) in Best Dance Recording. She received additional honors, including a Victoires de la Musique nomination and Awards d’Afrique Best Female Artist in 2020. Her 2023 album London Ko, co-produced with -M- (Mathieu Chedid) and featuring Damon Albarn on several tracks, incorporated bold visuals by Ethiopian artist Aida Muluneh.

Diawara has also appeared in films such as Timbuktu and Sia, and The Dream of the Python, and has worked with figures like Angélique Kidjo, Oumou Sangaré, Disclosure, Damon Albarn, Paul McCartney, and Herbie Hancock.

Fatoumata Diawara 2026 Tour

• Fri, APR 10 –Chorus Festival–Boulogne-billancourt, France
• Sat, APR 11–Cabaret Botanique – Parc du Thabor–Rennes, France
• Thu, APR 23–Sentrum Scene–Oslo, Norway
• Fri, APR 24–UKK – Sal D – Ståplats–Uppsala, Sweden
• Tue, MAY 5–Espace Culturel Le Champilambart–Vallet, France
• Wed, MAY 6–La Sirene–La Rochelle, France
• Thu, MAY 7, 2026–Adem Florida–Agen, France
• Thu, MAY 21–Theatre de Corbeil-Essonnes – Salle JARRY–Corbeil-essonnes, France
• Fri, JUN 12–Festival 2 Rivières–La Ferté-sous-jouarre, France
• Sun, JUL 5–Gent Jazz Festival–Gent, Belgium
• Mon, JUL 6–Jazz à Vienne 2026–Vienne, France
• Thu, JUL 16–Théâtre Antique–Arles, France
• Fri, JUL 24–Multi-lieux:Port–Crédit Mutuel, Estuaire, Théâtre de Verdure-Club 360-Saint-Nazaire, FR
• Sat, JUL 25–Multi-lieux:Port–Crédit Mutuel, Estuaire, Théâtre de Verdure-Club 360-Saint-Nazaire, FR
• Wed, NOV 18—Roundhouse–London, United Kingdom
• Sun, NOV 22–Festsaal Kreuzberg–Berlin, Germany
• Tue, NOV 24–Ancienne Belgique–Bruxelles, Belgium
• Wed, NOV 25–L’Olympia–Paris, France
• Fri, NOV 27—Paradiso–Amsterdam, Netherlands

A Milestone for Representation and Inspiration

This signature model underscores Diawara’s belief in the global relevance of stories and sounds from Mali and beyond. It serves as a symbol of empowerment, encouraging aspiring musicians—particularly women and artists of color—to embrace their creative paths.

The Epiphone Fatoumata Diawara SG is available worldwide through Epiphone.com, Gibson Garage locations in Nashville and London, and authorized dealers.

About Epiphone

Established in 1873, Epiphone has influenced music for over 150 years, evolving from crafting traditional instruments in the Ottoman Empire to shaping American jazz, the British Invasion, and beyond. Its guitars have been played by legends including The Beatles, Les Paul, John Lee Hooker, Alex Lifeson, Oasis, Nancy Wilson, Gary Clark Jr., Jared James Nichols, Emily Wolfe, and Yungblud. Today, Epiphone provides dependable, high-quality instruments for players at every level, backed by Gibson standards and a lifetime guarantee.

Find more from Fatoumata Diawara now:

FATOUMATADIAWARA.COM

Epiphone:

EPIPHONE.COM | X | IG | FB | YT

Gibson:

GIBSON.COM | X | IG | FB | TT | GIBSON APP | GIBSON GARAGE NASHVILLE | GIBSON GARAGE LONDON | GIBSON CERTIFIED VINTAGE | GIBSON RECORDS | GIBSON GIVES | GIBSON TV | GIBSON TV EN ESPANOL

Kramer:

KRAMERGUITARS.COM | X | IG | FB | YT

MESA/Boogie:

MESABOOGIE.COM | X | IG | FB

KRK:

KRKMUSIC.COM | X | IG | FB | YT

Maestro:

MAESTROELECTRONICS.COM | IG