Music of the West African Kora

Join us at the Farmer’s Market for a performance and educational demonstration on the kora, an ancient 21-stringed harp from West Africa with Sean Gaskell. He will feature traditional songs that are the heart and soul of the kora’s musical repertoire.

Gaskell studied under the extensive instruction of Moriba Kuyateh and the late Malamini Jobarteh in Gambia, and both Youssoupha Cissokho and Mamadou Cissokho in Senegal. The kora is traditionally played by oral historians known as Griots. Many songs featured on the kora preserve an 800-year history dating back to the founding of the Mande empire. Gaskell has presented adult, youth and family programs at over 350 libraries and a multitude of k-12 schools, colleges, universities and assisted living facilities throughout the United States and Canada.