Music and History of the West African Kora

Come listen to the sounds of the West African kora, a 21-string harp, and learn about it's history with Sean Gaskell. The kora is traditionally played by oral historians known as Griots. Many songs featured on the kora preserve an 800-year history dating back to the founding of the Mande empire.

Sean Gaskell studied under the instruction of Moriba Kuyateh and the late Malamini Jobarteh at their home in Brikama, Gambia as well as in Senegal with Youssoupha Cissokho and his son Mamadou Cissokho in the town of Saly. Gaskell has presented adult, youth and family programs at over 350 libraries and a multitude of K–12 schools, colleges, universities and assisted living facilities in the United States and Canada.

Event image credit: Sean Gaskell

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