The Kora: Making a Gourd Sound Beautiful!
Listen to the harp lute of the Malinke people of West Africa and learn how it was made.
The first written historical reference to a kora appeared in Mali in the 14th century. Mandinka oral tradition suggests it to be in the 16th century, with no scores written until the 20th century. The Kora has deep roots as an instrument of storytelling and folklore in West Africa. It is traditionally played in Mali, Senegal, Guinea, and Gambia.
The Kora has been played by the same musical guilds since then; however, this cultural framework is quickly changing, and today, the Kora is played by many more diverse groups than in the past. Male musicians use the Kora mainly to accompany narrations, recitations, and songs in honor of a patron. Over time, women have also learned to play, even those from our period.
The Role of a Kora Musician
The master of this instrument is called a Jali. From a very early age, boys were apprenticed and educated generally by their fathers in the traditions of the Malinke past and the histories and genealogies of their villages and locales.
Once active as established jalis, their roles and duties become numerous- more than just oral historians, they are storytellers, musicians, praise singers, and intermediaries par excellence. When tribal chiefs would come together, their jelis would often speak on their behalf, being well-versed in the ‘right words.’ They act as masters to various rites of passage, including marriages and naming ceremonies, and play these roles centrally.
The Essence of this instrument is it’s Gourd Resonator
The instrument’s body is composed of a long hardwood neck that passes through a calabash gourd resonator, itself covered by a leather (cow skin) soundboard.
Twenty-one leather or nylon strings are attached to the top of the neck with leather tuning rings. The strings pass over a notched bridge (10 strings on one side of the bridge, 11 on the other) and are anchored to the bottom of the neck with a metal ring. Here some images of the instrument’s parts.
The Kora is played while Sitting
In performance, the instrument rests on the ground vertically, and the musician plays the instrument while seated. He plucks the strings with the thumb and forefinger of each hand while the remaining fingers hold two hand posts drilled through the top of the gourd. The Kora has a range of over three octaves and is tuned by moving the leather rings located on the top of the neck.
To play the Kora, one uses the thumb and index finger on both hands to pluck the strings in polyrhythmic patterns (using the remaining fingers to hold the vertical bars on either side of the strings to secure the instrument).
Now let’s look at a few videos. This video is a short explanation of how the instrument is made traditionally.
Now, listen to master, Mamadou Diabate’s, performance on his Kora and the beautiful sound a gourd with 21 strings can create.
Last of all listen to this 60 Minute interview with a contemporary female kora player, Sona Jobarteh.
Have you heard this instrument in concert or have you seen one in person? Share your thoughts here in the comment box or share them with all the gourd artists on our Facebook Group Page.
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