Ballaké Sissoko Nan Sira Madi (2021)
In West Africa most villages have a jali—a person who is a historian, praise singer, poet, musician and storyteller. Traditionally, jali were often seen as leaders due to their positions as advisors to members of jatigi families, that is, emperors and warrior-kings. Jali have been in charge of settling conflicts and acting as mediators for disputes. Another task of theirs was to cultivate oral lore, and in that capacity they still are an essential part of many West African festivities such as weddings, where they share family histories of the newlyweds. Their storytelling often is accompanied by traditional instruments such as the kora. The kora has many features and thus is hard to classify: It’s not a double harp, not a bridge harp, not a lute, but all three at once. The instrument has a rich history, probably dating back to the 14th century, and it is still in use today. One of the better known players who, thanks to manifold collaborations, has made a name for himself outside of West Africa is Ballaké Sissoko. YouTube channel COLORSxSTUDIOS recorded Sissoko’s song “Nan Sira Madi” in their signature style.
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