by Anonymouse

Created on: April 01, 2010   Last Updated: November 04, 2010

The West African kora is the most versatile harp-lute in existence. For centuries, it has provided background music for traditional storytelling in Mande culture. If you've ever heard kora music, you shouldn't be surprised at how its lovely tunes have infiltrated the western world. In fact, it's common to hear koras playing throughout modern jazz and pop songs.

How It's Made

The kora features a half-sphere-shaped gourd resonator and a lengthy hardwood neck. The resonator is made from sturdy calabash vine, split and wrapped in cow or antelope hide to create a soundboard. Two small poles protrude from the resonator and function as handles. The kora's strings run from the bottom of the instrument to leather tuning rings on the neck, and it also features a notched bridge. While strings were traditionally made of animal hide, newer kora models may have harp strings or nylon fishing line material instead.

How It's Played

The kora must stand vertically when it's being played. Once in position, using their thumbs and index fingers, kora players simply pluck away. They latch the rest of their fingers onto handles protruding from the resonator for support. It takes talent to play one of these instruments - the most advanced of its kind in Western Africa. In fact, most koras have 21 strings; 10 for the right hand and 11 for the left. One contemporary version in southern Senegal also features up to four more bass strings.

Cultural Importance

The kora is a traditional instrument of West African Mande tribes. These include Gambia's Mandinka, Mali's Bambara, Guinée's Maninka, and the Ivory Coast's Dioula. However, kora music is most prominent in Gambia and South Senegal. For hundreds of years, the kora has been played at their royal courts for the upper class, who owned musicians (i.e., jali) and storytellers (i.e., griot). Both of these occupations were passed down from parent to child.

The Sound

Modern kora music sounds similar to harp music, but when played in a traditional West African manner, sounds more like the flamenco guitar. Ostinato riffs on the kora are called 'kumbengo' and spontaneous solos are called 'birimintingo'. There are 4 different seven-note kora scales, which closely resemble our Lydian, major, and minor modes. Moving the tuning rings can help you achieve a better sound, but keep in mind: Although it may sound simple enough, tuning a kora is actually harder than playing it.

Origination

The kora was first mentioned in Western literature in the early 1799, in "Travels in Interior Districts of Africa", written by an adventurous Scotsman named Mungo Park. However, the kora existed long before he published his famous book. Stories passed down by the Mandinka indicate that the kora originated during the life of a jali named Mady Fouling Cissoko. This was during The Kaabu Empire of Senegambia, most likely during the 1500s. It was quite an invention. Since being created, the kora has remained essential in Mande culture, and has more recently become a musical marvel around the world.

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