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West African Kora
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| Prince Diabaté ©Linda Bawden Allen |
In West Africa the djelis or griots are key figures in helping Mandé society and families preserve their histories through song and oral sagas. The griot sings at births, baptisms, weddings and funerals, relating family history and important events while playing the kora, a 21-string instrument made of wood, animal hide and calabash. Prince Diabaté, who was born in a traditional griot family in Guinea, learned to play the kora at age 5
from his father Djéli Sori Diabaté. Also from West Africa and sharing the same language and culture, his apprentice Habibou Sissoko has been studying the kora with Diabaté since 1999. Their goal is to broaden and deepen the apprentice’s repertoire so that he can perform publicly with his master.
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Prince Diabaté, Apprentice Habibou Sissoko, and Prince's youngest student, Alex Sissoko, age 4. ©Linda Bawden Allen |
| Although he is a traditional griot who performs on the kora and other instruments in the traditional manner, Prince is also very creative musically and enjoys experimenting. Here Prince Diabaté plays his “California” kora, which he made from materials obtained here in the state and which shows modifications from the traditional kora, including electronic pickups. |  |
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Habibou Sissoko, apprentice to Prince Diabaté, is an architect who finds playing the kora a means of staying connected with his Mali cultural roots. |
| Habib plays the rhythm part on the traditional kora while accompanying Prince who plays the melody on his “California” kora. |  |
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Instruments of the West African griot [left to right]: traditional kora (large, white); n’goni-kora (front, 11 strings); djéli-n’goni (back, 5 strings); California kora (red); kora belonging to Prince’s father, Djéli Sori Diabaté, and bequeathed to Prince after his death; kamele n’goni (normally 6 strings, but Prince has added 4 strings to change the sound). |
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