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The Kora 07 Dec 2007 |
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The Kora 07 Dec 2007 |
The kora (CORE-uh) has become the hallmark of
traditional Mandinka musicians. With 21 strings
stretched along its neck, the kora's body is made from half of a calabash gourd, covered with cowhide fastened on
by decorative tacks. Sound holes
cut in the side of the gourd also serve as a store for the coins offered
to a "griot", or praise singer, in appreciation of his
performance. He is called a "jalibaa" (jal' ee baa) in
Mandinka. As the kora is played, it begins to take on a life of
its own and it is believed that the singer and the instrument become
one.
It was the traditional role of the jalibaa to maintain and store historical facts, to memorize the genealogy of patron families and sing their praises, to act as messengers and intermediaries in disputes between families, to serve as guardians of traditional culture, and to entertain. Today, unfortunately, the kora is a dying art. While the skill is passed down from father to son, it is losing its importance in Mandinka society and becoming simply more a form of entertainment, especially for the tourists. God has given the vision to some believers that if the kora can be used for telling man's story, why not also use it for telling God's story! There are now songs and stories using only Scripture being sung to kora music. Please pray for the continuation of this ministry, and look for updates on this website in the coming months... |