(headline image: Camac 34 string Telenn harp) Harp history reaches back to the earliest urban cultures and continues to evolve in the present day. Visual…
Harps Around The World And Across Time
Tag: kora
Inteligencia Orgánica: A Transcultural Dialog of Flamenco, Mandinka, and Improvisation in Real Time
Inteligencia Orgánica (IO) is a Spain-based cross-cultural ensemble that brings together leading figures from diverse musical traditions: Karen Lugo (dance), Momi Maiga (kora), Aleix Tobías…
Music of a Different Griot Home
Born in Senegal but based in Poland, kora player Ablaye Badji harnesses longstanding griot tradition to a funk/jazz backdrop on “Aduna,” a sparking piece of…
Strings of Change: Sona Jobarteh Brings Griot Legacy to Brooklyn
On Tuesday, March 18, 2025, renowned Gambian kora virtuoso and activist Sona Jobarteh will take the stage at Brooklyn Bowl, weaving together West African griot…
Piers Faccini and Ballaké Sissoko Reveal ‘Borne on the Wind’ Single
Two decades after their initial collaboration, singer-songwriter Piers Faccini and Malian kora maestro Ballaké Sissoko are set to release a new album, Our Calling, on…
Kora to the Core
American kora players aren’t exactly commonplace, so the work of Kane Mathis is not only noteworthy for his individuality, but for his expertise. He leads…
Australia’s The Mandé Spirit Celebrate Malian musician Toumani Diabate
(headline image: The Mandé Spirit — Photo by Kurt Eckardt) On December 6th, an ensemble of musicians from the West African diaspora gathered in an…
The Kora: West Africa’s Cherished 21-Stringed Harp-Lute
(headline image: Toumani and Sidiki Diabate – Photo by Youri Lenquette) The kora, a 21-stringed instrument, holds a significant place in West African musical traditions,…
Kairo: Momi Maiga’s Bridge-Building Kora Fusion
Momi Maiga – Kairo (Segell Microscopi, 2024) Kairo, Momi Maiga’s second album, weaves together threads from his native Senegalese heritage with a mix of jazz,…
Sefo Kanuteh Goes Acoustic on Mesmerizing Album ‘Afou’
Sefo Kanuteh – Afou (self-released, 2021) Afou is the second kora and balafon album Sefo Kanuteh player released in 2021. Afou, recorded with UK-based musicians,…