Album Notes

Balla Tounkara was born 34 years ago in the griot tradition of Mali, West Africa, the center of the ancient Manding Empire. Historically, the griot's role in the Malian royal court was to praise the military prowess and honor the king and his warriors, and maintain the history of its society both orally and through music. Balla, who's ancestors were chiefs of the griots, began to play the kora (the original 21-stringed harp of Africa) as a child, and honed his skills through years of strict discipline and commitment. Known as the "instrument of kings", the kora served for many centuries not only as the official instrument of the emperors of Mali, but also as a vehicle for spiritual guidance, relaxation, and relief of worry. The kora was played to bring out the best in both player and listener. It is this vision of the kora that Balla exemplifies in his music.

Under the tutelage of his internationally known grandfathers Batrou Sekou Kouyate and Samakou Tounkara, Balla learned to respect the significance and profundity of this royal music, becoming a master kora player in his own right. In this body of work Balla teams up with longtime friend, artist, and griot Balla Kouyate, he himself a master musician of the balaphone, also a traditional Manding instrument. The music created is effortlessly fantastic as the two friends and griots continue along the journey of their ancestors.