Language: Chinese
KumaBiBolo interviewed by Yaya, written by Jackie 

Koras are made by some numu (artisans) or griots in West Africa. 

Bakary Cisse (left)

Today we arrived at Artisanal, a handicraft market, on Bagadaji street in Bamako to interview a skillful kora crafter who will explain us how kora was made. Bakary Cisse, a Tuareg raised in bambara society, acquired kora crafting from a well-known numu, Zen Fane who crafted koras for numerous musicians., has been selected by INA (Institut National des Arts) to present musical instruments (kora, ngoni, balafon and jembe) from his hands at expositions in France, Russia and China.

signboard of his shop

seller selecting a calabash for kora

We need a calabash that can speak; smooth, round and sun-backed. Knock on it when buying from the seller. Then cut it open on top, nail a piece of antelope skin on the the opening with pins.

Then mount the wooden neck (rosewood is the best) through the sides.

The tuning pegs are either in metal or wood, other than that, you can choose the traditional ones, a dozens of tuning rings made of cow skin.

The strings, twenty-one in total, were used to be made with goat or antelope skin since they were more elastic than cow’s or sheep’s, however they do not sound as good as the modern one, the fishlines in nylon.

We use the skin-made strings on bɔlɔn (a bass made with a calabash and three or four strings).

We tie them on tuning pegs, go across the bridge and fasten them at the other end of the neck.

In West Africa, every craftsman has his own way to make kora, thus the koras might don’t have the same shape, but must give the same sound. I see that westerners started to modernize kora with electronic stuff. Their bridges of koras are all amplified, without amplifiers, their koras won’t sound well. However, the kora made in our traditional way can speak even without connecting to any electronic devices. If you are in a quiet place, you can make music with it. But if there are many people, you have to amplify your kora.

If you are quick, you can build a kora in one week. But,for me, I work with care, I need two weeks to build one, if all the materials are ready. Because first I let the freshly-cut wood dry naturally, then decorate, varnish and wrap it in paper, then assembly it. That takes time. However, the small kora for children can be made in one day.

Dialogue translation: 

Yaya: Can both men and women play kora?

Bakary: Yes, of course. It’s a musical instrument. Everyone has right to play it. Compare to jembe, jembe is very hard to play, but kora you just need to touch the strings (which are soft and elastic). You have to play jembe with your soul and it’s hard for your soul. (it takes strength). Playing kora is easier for your soul, even so, there are women learn jembe as sometimes you see man learn dance.