Monday, July 3, 2023
Playlist: Quintessential kora
A Songlines playlist for Apple Music exploring the many and varied uses of this iconic instrument of West Africa
Photo of Ballaké Sissoko by Benoit Peverelli
The rippling strings of the kora define the sound of West Africa. But the instrument is also hugely versatile as this playlist shows, whether played solo by the virtuosic Toumani Diabaté, duetting with the Welsh harp of Catrin Finch, the cello of Vincent Ségal or the trombone of Roswell Rudd, underpinning the Afro-pop fusions of Ba Cissoko and Toumani’s son Sidiki Diabaté, or creating exotic textures for western rock stars such as Björk.
