Women in griot families were singers, but it was only men who were allowed to play the instruments. That is, until Sona Jobarteh. At 39, she has become one of the foremost kora players in the ...

and the forefingers play the melody. Although she has studied the instrument for years and now performs around the world, Jobarteh said she does not yet feel she has "mastered" the kora.

they won’t know whether it’s a man or woman playing.’” Now 41, Jobarteh has become the first female kora artist to have a major touring and recording career, and is one of the few ...

“It was never like, ‘You play this, I’ll play that ... “So I don’t see Toumani as a kora player from Mali, I see him as a great artist who belongs to the world.” ...

In addition to performing key tracks from SUBA, the Trio will play music from their first album, Transparent Water. Seckou Keita is one of the most influential kora players of his generation ...

As tribute to Toumani Diabaté, who has died aged 58 following a short illness, here's our Album By Album interview with the Malian kora master from Uncut's February 2011 issue [Take 165].

SOAS, University of London provides funding as a member of The Conversation UK. The untimely death of Mali’s Toumani Diabaté at the age of 58 has shocked the music world. The sheer number of ...

Despite living in close proximity to a kora aficionado, however, Toumani Diabaté taught himself by listening to his father and grandfather play. Toumani’s son Sidiki is also primarily self ...