Malian virtuoso Ballaké Sissoko, widely considered to be one of the greatest touring kora players, joins Derek Gripper, South Africa’s leading guitarist, whose love of the kora set him transcribing and recording some of its greatest works, changing the face of classical guitar, and giving the instrument its very first African repertoire.

In this concert the artists look at the unbroken musical tradition of the griots of Mali—through French occupation and colonization, it still emerged as one of humanity’s most astonishing aural traditions.

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Barbara B. Smith World Music Series: Ballake Sissko, kora & Derek Gripper, guitar

Eastman School of Music

Malian kora master Ballaké Sissoko and South Africa’s premier classical guitarist, Derek Gripper, reunite on the E. Desmond Lee stage to recreate their acclaimed 2022 performances in Paris and London.

Ballaké Sissoko, kora and Derek Gripper, guitar

560 Music Center

Born and raised in Cape Town’s historic Langa township, saxophonist and flutist McCoy Mrubata has come to represent the South African city’s glorious jazz legacy.

As a child he absorbed the soulful hymns of the Zion Church, the chants and rhythms of traditional healers and the South African swing of the Merry Macs, an early Cape Town jazz combo that rehearsed across from his home. Leaving school after the bloody 1976 Soweto uprising, he threw himself into music, studying with Langa legends such as pianist Madoda Gxabeka, tenor saxophonist Winston Ngozi, trumpeter Fezekile “Blackie” Tempi and penny whistle master Robert Sithole.

McCoy Mrubata

SFJAZZ Center

Malian virtuoso Ballaké Sissoko is considered one of the greatest touring kora players. He joins Derek Gripper, a renowned South African guitarist, whose love of the kora set him to transcribing and recording some of its greatest works. In this collaboration, Sissoko and Gripper explore the ancient musical traditions of the griots of Mali.

The Art of the Kora: Derek Gripper & Ballaké Sissoko

Trustees' Garden

Malian virtuoso Ballaké Sissoko has taken over the mantle of the greatest touring kora player. Derek Gripper is South Africa’s leading guitarist whose love of the kora set him transcribing and recording some of its greatest works, changing the face of classical guitar and giving the instrument its very first African repertoire. In this final concert in our French Touch series, Music Before 1800 partners with The World Music Institute to look at the unbroken musical tradition of the griots of Mali, through French occupation and colonization, and emerging as one of humanity’s most astonishing aural traditions.

Derek Gripper

Events

Past events

Feb 4, 2026

Barbara B. Smith World Music Series: Ballake Sissko, kora & Derek Gripper, guitar · Eastman School of Music

Feb 1, 2026

Ballaké Sissoko, kora and Derek Gripper, guitar · Washington University in St. Louis Department of Music

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