Language: Chinese
Interviewed by Yaya, Written by Jackie

Bamako, Mali

Gaoussou Sissoko is a jeli (griot) from Diabaté family with a long-lined jeli descendants in Mali and a grandson of old Sidiki Diabaté who played Kora in Sundiata Keita.

Gaoussou Sissoko: Not only women but men were neither permited, except the oldest son who should carry on the family line. The original kora had only one string, when first player handed kora over to his son, the son added one string on it symbolizing the second generation of kora player and then passed it down to his son who added one more string until the 21st generation when the father died before the son was born, this practice stopped. Therefore the kora has 21 strings. If it is a classical kora with braided-leather rings for tuning, mounted from top-to-down along the neck, you will see each string attaches to one ring and , at bottom of the neck, a circle of pins nailed by the kora crafter, a sign for the 22nd string not handed down, family heritage unfulfilled. Continue reading →