[djembefeeling]

The kora with it's 21+ strings is really hard to play, and to master it is almost a fulltime job. So I marvel at those who master it as amateurs, the more so when they didn't grow up in Africa.

Here are the two guys I deeply admire for their ability to truly capture the spirit of this music. I know, the attitude of the first player is somehow to much in this esoteric spirit thing, but still the music is overwhelming; so please rather listen to than watch

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PEGhv54EbhU[/video]


this next guy is incredible. such a mastery is the result of great talent plus early start (with 8 years). toumani diabate was his mentor and teacher. listen also to his cd, with traditional tracks of the kora repertoire as well as great compositions of josh doughty:

http://www.joshdoughty.co.uk/music

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMGOfUUL6to[/video]

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKY5oomIrBA[/video]

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wxr8eONiZPY[/video]

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LsCsSh07Hes[/video]


o.k., to give also give credit to African players just one example:

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oToZfPGMMBY[/video]


for more interesting videos look at this channel on youtube:

https://www.youtube.com/user/thekoraworkshop

[djembefeeling]

Here is another guy from England who knows how to play the instrument:

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jO6U8buFXzM[/video]

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZGopfc2UN8[/video]

I wondered if there aren't equally good French players, and finally I could find this guy:

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttpZaS7nCoo[/video]

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0_ci6Swu9Y[/video]

a bit off topic, but I like it so much, I've got to pull attention to this great African-Western cooperation:

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYmL6kI0wkQ[/video]