New Ancient Strings
Videos
New Ancient Strings is a studio album by the Malian musicians Toumani Diabaté and Ballaké Sissoko, released on 22 June 1999 by the British label Hannibal Records. The album comprises eight instrumenta
Both Toumani Diabaté (pictured in 2009) and his father, Sidiki, are regarded as the foremost kora player of their respective generations.
Nighttime view of the Bamako cityscape, facing southward toward the Niger River. New Ancient Strings was recorded at the Palais des Congrès, a conference center located by the northern riverbank (and visible in this photo).
Ballaké Sissoko (pictured in 2021) rose to greater international prominence after the release of New Ancient Strings.
Griot
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A griot is a West African historian, storyteller, praise singer, poet, and/or musician. Griots are masters of communicating stories and history orally, which is an African tradition.
Senegalese griot, 1890
A Hausa griot performs at Diffa, Niger, playing a komsa (Xalam).
Griots of Sambala, king of Médina (Fula people, Mali), 1890. Photo by Joannès Barbier.
Trio Da Kali performing in Mexico City during the 32nd "Festival del Centro Histórico" in Teatro de la Ciudad, c. March 2016