Epiphone's new signature SG belongs to Fatoumata Diawara, a first for the brand
The Malian singer-guitarist's Ember Red SG carries a graphic pulled from her own artwork and ships for $699.
Jan 23, 2026 · 1 min read
Guitar Radar Editorial · Reviewed by Peter Luha · Published Aug 27, 2026
Credit: Epiphone (official)
Epiphone has released a signature SG built with Malian singer, guitarist, and actress Fatoumata Diawara — the first time the company has put a woman of color's name on one of its signature instruments. Diawara was Grammy-nominated for her 2018 album Fenfo, has recorded and performed with Herbie Hancock, Paul McCartney, Damon Albarn, and Angélique Kidjo, and has acted in the films Timbuktu and Sia, and the Dream of the Python.
The guitar starts from Epiphone's Muse SG platform: mahogany body and glued-in neck, a Custom C profile, bound rosewood fretboard with 22 medium jumbo frets and pearloid trapezoid inlays, gold LockTone hardware, and a pair of Alnico Classic PRO humbuckers with coil-splitting. What sets it apart is the finish — Ember Red with a graphic top drawn from Diawara's own artwork, tying the guitar to her Malian roots directly rather than treating that as a footnote in the marketing copy.
"This guitar carries my Malian roots and my voice," Diawara said of the collaboration. It's available now worldwide through Epiphone.com, the Gibson Garage locations in Nashville and London, and authorized dealers, priced at $699.
Credit: Epiphone / Gibson
Why it matters
Signature instruments almost always go to guitarists with decades of rock or metal credentials attached to their name. Putting one in the hands of a West African singer-guitarist from a very different tradition is a genuine first for Epiphone, not just a new finish on an old shape.
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