The Kora
The kora is a stringed instrument used extensively in West Africa. A kora typically has 21 strings, which are played by plucking with the fingers. It has features of the lute and the harp.
The kora is built from a gourd, cut in half and covered with cow skin to make a resonator with a long hardwood neck. The skin is supported by two handles that run underneath it. It has 21 strings, each of which plays a different note. These strings are supported by a notched, double free-standing bridge.
Kora players have traditionally come from jali families (also from the Mandinka tribes) who are traditional historians, genealogists and storytellers who pass their skills on to their descendants. Though played in Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mali and Senegal, the instrument was first discovered in the Gambia.
Nowadays, koras are increasingly made with guitar machine heads instead of the traditional konso (leather rings). The advantage is that they are much easier to tune. The disadvantage is that this design limits the tuning range of the instrument because string lengths are more fixed and lighter strings are needed to lift it much more than a tone.
How do I play the instrument?
The player rests the kora on the ground in a vertical position. The instrumentalist plays seated and plucks the strings with the thumb and forefinger of both hands. The remaining fingers hold two hand posts drilled through the top of the gourd.
Are there any instrument similar to this one?
Gravikord, ngoni, balafon, harp, gravi-kora, seperewa, simbing, and bolon are similar to the kora
How long does it take to learn?
The kora takes time and dedication, as children are taught to master the instrument by a family member who has mastered it. Adults can learn with the same dedication, commitment, and practice
Is there special equipment needed for the instrument?
No special equipment needed to play the kora.
Rock with a Star!
Let’s enjoy the sound of this instrument through this wonderful performance by Sona Jobarteh.
Sona Jobarteh performed in Weimar on invitation of the University of Music FRANZ LISZT Weimar and its UNESCO Chair of Transcultural Music Studies (TMS).
