(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, particularly among the Mandinka people. The kora combines elements of both harp and lute, producing a unique sound that has captivated audiences worldwide.
In terms of construction and design, the kora is crafted from a large calabash gourd cut in half and covered with cowhide. The resonator is attached to a long hardwood neck. Traditionally, its 21 strings were made from animal hide and gut; however, modern koras often utilize nylon fishing line for durability and consistency. The instrument features a notched, double free-standing bridge, supporting two parallel rows of strings, which players pluck using the thumb and forefinger of each hand.
The kora’s origins trace back to the 13th-century Mali Empire, where it was integral to the jali (griot) tradition. Jalis, as hereditary musicians and storytellers, used the kora to accompany oral histories, praise songs, and social ceremonies. This role has been preserved over centuries, with the instrument symbolizing cultural continuity and identity.
In the latter half of the 20th century, the kora began to captivate Western audiences. This exposure was driven largely by European, American, and Japanese independent record labels eager to diversify their world music collections, releasing seminal recordings by early kora masters. This newfound international recognition not only introduced the kora’s rich, resonant sounds to the wider world but also empowered these musicians to embark on global tours, securing financial stability to support themselves and their families. At the same time, this exposure elevated their communities’ cultural legacy.
Three preeminent West African jeli (or griot) families, the Kouyaté/Kuyateh, Jobarteh (Jobate)/Diabaté, and Cissoko/Sissoko dynasties, are recognized as custodians of the kora tradition, preserving its techniques and repertoire across generations. Among the revered players, Batourou Sekou Kouyaté is often cited as a foundational influence on today’s kora musicians. His contributions were solidified with the release of Mali: Ancient Strings (1970), an album featuring duets by Kouyaté, Sidiki Diabaté, Djelimadi Sissoko, and N’Fa Diabaté, each a luminary in their own right.
Batourou Sekou Kouyaté later released El Sa Cora in 1976, a recording that has since been remastered and continues to inspire contemporary listeners.
The first international standard-bearer of kora was Alhaji Bai Konte. Bai Konte was the first kora player to begin to perform and tour in the USA and Europe, back in the 1970s. His sons are Dembo Konte and Malamini Jobate.
Other pivotal kora figures of this era included Soundioulou Cissokho, Buli Sissoko, Djimo Kouyaté, Amadou Bansang Jobarteh, and Sidikiba Diabaté, each of whom brought a distinctive voice to the instrument, expanding its role within both local and international contexts.
By the late 20th century, a new generation emerged, led by the Malian virtuoso Toumani Diabaté. His recordings of traditional music, as well as high-profile collaborations across genres like flamenco, rock, and jazz, redefined the kora’s possibilities.
One of Toumani’s landmark projects was the New Ancient Strings album, a collaboration with Djelimoussa “Ballaké” Sissoko (son of Djelimadi Sissoko). This album paid homage to the original Ancient Strings, bridging generations of kora mastery and reinvigorating traditional forms for modern audiences.
Ballaké Sissoko has since risen as one of the kora’s most celebrated international ambassadors. His prolific career spans traditional and fusion albums, including collaborations with artists like Toumani Diabaté, Ludovico Einaudi, Vincent Segal, Driss al Maloumy, Rajery, and Baba Sissoko, which further broadened the instrument’s appeal and versatility.
Concurrently, other distinguished players like Fode Kouyaté, Djeour Cissokho, Dembo Konte, Kausu Kouyaté, Malamini Jobarteh, Mory Kanté, and Djeli Moussa Diawara have each contributed significantly to the kora legacy with their innovations and personal styles.
The late 20th century also saw the emergence of a young Malian kora virtuoso, Mamadou Diabate, who relocated to the United States and recorded traditional and fusion albums with independent labels. His album Douga Mansa won the Grammy for Best Traditional World Music in 2010, a milestone that cemented his reputation on the global stage.
In parallel, Senegalese kora master Seckou Keita (whose lineage includes the Cissokho family) established himself in the UK. Keita’s genre-spanning collaborations with artists like Baka Beyond, Omar Sosa, and Catrin Finch highlight the kora’s adaptability and Keita’s ability to fuse tradition with contemporary forms.
Additionally, the kora holds a prominent role in the Afro Celt Sound System, a groundbreaking collective that combines African, Celtic, and electronic music. Within this group, Guinean kora player N’Faly Kouyaté amplifies the kora’s potential.
Although the large majority of kora players are men, Sona Jobarteh, a member of a prominent Gambian griot family, has become the leading professional female kora player. She has expanded the kora’s reach through performances and educational initiatives.
Selected Kora Discography:
Sidiki Diabaté, Sékou Batourou Kouyaté, Djelimadi Sissoko, and N’Fa Diabaté
Ancient Strings (Barenreiter Musicaphon/Buda Musique, 1970)
Sékou Batourou Kouyaté
Et Sa Cora (Kouma, 1976)
Sidiki Diabate
Rhythmes et chants du Mali (Sonafric, 1977)
Soundioulou Cissokho
Le couple royal de la musique traditionnelle à Paris, with Mahawa Kouyaté (GBR, 1975)
Folklore du Senegal, with Lalo Keba Drame (Ndardisc, 1975)
Histoire du couple royal de la musique traditionnelle – Volume 1, with Mahawa Kouyaté (Bellot, 1976)
Musique du Folklore et Chants Traditionnels (Ndardisc 1976)
Songs of the griots vol 2, with Mahawa Kouyaté (JVC, 1992)
Djimo Kouyate
Djimo (Music of the World, 1982)
Mamaya African Jazz (Mamaya, 1988)
Yankadi (Memory of African Culture, 1992)
Amadu Bansang Jobarteh
Master of the Kora (Eavadisc, 1978)
Tabara (Music of the World, 1987)
Alhaji Bai Konte
Kora melodies from The Republic of Gambia, West Africa (Rounder, 1973)
Gambian griot kora duets, with Dembo Konte & Malamini Jobarteh (Folkways, 1979)
Kora music and songs from The Gambia, West Africa (Virgin, 1979)
Toumani Diabate
Djelika (Hannibal, 1995)
Kaira (Hannibal, 1988)
Songhai, with Ketama (Hannibal, 1988)
Songhai 2 (Hannibal, 1995)
New Ancient Strings, with Ballake Sissoko (Hannibal, 1999)
Kulanjan (1999), with Sissoko, Kasse Mady Diabate and Taj Mahal
Mali Music, with Afel Bocoum, Damon Albarn (Honest Jon’s Records, 2002)
Malicool, with Roswell Rudd (Soundscape, 2003)
In the Heart of the Moon, with Ali Farka Toure (World Circuit, 2005)
Boulevard de l’Independance (World Circuit, 2006)
Ali & Toumani (World Circuit, 2010)
Afrocubism (World Circuit, 2010)
A Curva da Cintura, with Arnaldo Antunes and Edgard Scandurra (Mais Um Discos, 2011)
Toumani & Sidiki (Nonesuch, 2014)
Kôrôlén (World Circuit, 2021)
The Sky Is the Same Colour Everywhere (Real World Records, 2023)
Ballaké Sissoko
New Ancient Strings (Hannibal Records, 1999)
Déli (Label Bleu, 2000)
Master Musicians Meeting Club (Volume 1) (Saraswati, 2002
Kora Music From Mali (Indigo, 2002)
Diario Mali (Ponderosa Music, 2003)
Tomora (Label Bleu, 2004)
3MA (Madagascar Mali Maroc), with Rajery, Ballaké Sissoko, Driss El Maloumi (Contre-Jour, 2008)
Chamber Music, with Vincent Segal (No Format, 2009)
At Peace (No Format, 2013)
Musique De Nuit, with Vincent Segal (No Format, 2015)
The Routes of Slavery 1444-1888 (Alia Vox, 2017)
Anarouz (Mad Minute Music, 2017)
Djourou (Nø Førmat!, 2021)
A Touma (Nø Førmat!, 2021)
Les Égarés (No Format, 2023)
Ballaké Sissoko & Derek Gripper (Matsuli Music, 2024)
Bamako*Chicago Sound System, with Nicole Mitchell (FPE Records, 2024)
Radicants, with Lorenzo Bianchi Hoesch Featuring Emile Parisien (Ornithology, 2024)
Fode Kouyate
Anka Wili (Syllart, 1993)
Djelia (Celluloid, 1996)
Djeour Cissokho
Hommage a pere Soundioulou (KSF, 1997)
Unite (KSF, 1998)
Guisna (Zoom-Zoom, 2002)
Au fond de l’inconnu (Zoom-Zoom, 2006)
La nuit nous voit (Zoom-Zoom, 2009)
Tiedo Africa (2024)
Dembo Konte
Gambian Griot Kora Duets, with Alhaji Bai Konte & Malamini Jobarteh (Folkways, 1979)
Jaliya, with Malamini Jobarteh (Sterns, 1985)
Baa toto, with Malamini Jobarteh (World Record, 1987)
Tanante, with Kausu Kouyate (Rogue, 1986)
Simbomba, with Kausu Kouyate (Rogue, 1987)
Jali Roll, with Kausu Kouyate (Rogue, 1990)
Jaliology, with Kausu Kouyate & Mawdo Suso (Rogue, 1995)
Mory Kanté
Mory Kanté et son ensemble (Sako Production, 1981)
Courougnégné (Ebony, 1981)
N’diarabi (Mélodie,1982)
À Paris (Barclay, 1984)
Ten Cola Nuts (Barclay, 1986)
Akwaba Beach (Barclay, 1987)
Touma (Mango, 1990)
Nongo Village (Barclay, 1993)
Tatebola (Misslin, 1996)
Tamala – Le Voyageur (Sonodisc/Next, 2001)
Sabou (Riverboat, 2004)
La Guinéenne (Discograph, 2012)
Djeli Moussa Diawara
Foté mogoban (AS Productions/Tangent, 1983)
Soubindoor (World Circuit, 1988)
Cimadan (Celluloid, 1992)
Sobindo (Celluloid, 1994)
FlamenKora (Melodie, 1998)
Kora Jazz Trio (Celluloid, 2003)
Kora Jazz Trio – Part two (Celluloid, 2005)
Sini (RSD, 2006)
Dembo Konte (Gambia) and Kausu Kuyateh (Senegal)
Kairaba Jabi (1998)
Mamadou Diabate
Tunga (Alula Records, 2000)
Behmanka (Europe: Tradition and Moderne, 2004 / USA: World Village, 2005)
Heritage (World Village, 2006)
Douga Mansa (World Village, 2008)
Strings Tradition (Felmay Records, 2009)
Djan Djan (ABC Music, 2010)
Courage (World Village, 2011)
Griot Classique (self-release, 2014)
Madina N’Diaye
Bimogow (Sound of World, 2006)
Sona Jobarteh
Afro Acoustic Soul (Sona Soul Records, 2008)
Motherland: The Score (African Guild Records, 2010)
Fasiya (African Guild Records, 2011)
Badinyaa Kumoo (African Guild Records, 2022)
Dawda Jobarteh
I Met Her By The River (Sterns Africa, 2019)
Kadialy Kouyaté
Aado – Senegalese Kora (Naxos World/ARC Music, 2021)
Ablaye Cissoko & Cyrille Brotto
Instant (Ma Case Records, 2022)
Maher Cissoko
Cissoko Heritage (Ajabu! Records, 2021)
Kora World (ajabu!, 2023)
Momi Maiga
Kairo (Segell Microscopi, 2024)
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.