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.

Ballake Sissko

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Feb 4, 2026

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

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