Continuing on with the griots theme, this photo is of my former music teacher Jelimady Sissoko and his brothers playing the kora at a restaurant in Bamako, Mali. The kora is a 21-stringed harp-lute instrument composed of half a large gourd (calabash), wooden "neck", various weights of fish string, and leather rings. It is plucked with the thumb and pointer fingers. These brothers come from the Sissoko family, a long line of griots - traditional storytellers and praise singers of Mali. The traditional songs often tell of love, contain morals, or reminisce about the glories of the old Malian kingdom. Griots still play at important ceremonial events such as weddings. Songs start with a basic melody, embellished by the other players and are quite impovisational in nature. Music is strictly oral - no written music is used. Traditionally, the kora instrument was reserved only for playing by griots. In addition to playing the kora, the griots are instrument-makers. For more information about the kora, go to the Cora Connection.
1 comment:
Hello,
Last year I have visited Bulgaria, Veliko and zlatni (Golden Sands). Your travel log helped me a lot. Thank you.
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