kora
A 21-string West African bridge harp with a calabash resonator, central to the griot tradition of oral history.
In Depth
The kora is a unique stringed instrument from the Mandinka people of West Africa, combining elements of a harp and a lute. Its 21 nylon or fishing-line strings are attached to a long hardwood neck that passes through a large calabash gourd cut in half and covered with cowhide. The player holds the instrument upright, plucking the strings with the thumbs and index fingers of both hands while the remaining fingers grip two vertical handles.
The kora is the instrument of the griots (jeli) — hereditary musicians, storytellers, and historians who preserve the oral traditions of West African societies. A master kora player can produce intricate polyphonic textures that rival the harp or guitar, combining bass patterns, melodic lines, and rhythmic ostinatos simultaneously. Artists like Toumani Diabaté and Ballaké Sissoko have brought the kora to international prominence through collaborations with jazz, blues, and classical musicians, revealing the instrument's extraordinary versatility.
The art of kora playing is traditionally passed from father to son within griot families — Toumani Diabaté represents the 71st generation of kora players in his family lineage.