London Street Music. The Kaira Kora Played at South Bank, Westminster

[@oparasatauwaya]

This is Jali Bakary Konteh, a kora master from the respected Konteh griot family in The Gambia.

[@mafuconteh]

Yes Jali is a highly respected master.. check out his younger brothers new channel called Mafu Conteh and the Kilee Boom Boom Band!

[@mafuconteh]

Love it

[@MaireadPeig]

♥

[@Gluluman]

I hate when they try to modernize the Kora, it sounds awful. The Kora was never intended to be electrified or modernized with electronic gadgets. A real griot plays a real traditional Kora which has a deep and heavy bass, the strings linked to the wooden pole with cowhide. I saw one real griot played when I went to Senegal and it sounded great. These people are not real griots, they are frauds and charlatans .

[@mafuconteh]

That's Jali Bakery Conteh, son of Dembo Conteh, Grandson of Alhagie Bai Conteh. Jali Bakary is from a griot family with so many generations that no one knows how many. Jali grew up playing traditional kora. There is no choice when performing in the west. Audiences don't have the time for artists to be tuning after every song for a few minutes. Mafu Conteh, Jali's brother has a new band and KZbin channel: Mafu Conteh and the Kilee Boom Boom Band. Check it out!

[@Gluluman]

@@mafuconteh Kora is a traditional, mystical an magical instrument; it should be enjoyed beyond its classical Mandinka pedigree. It is not for everyone nor meant for a western Audience to enjoy at their leisure … real jali, griot or story teller should stick to the traditional tune of the Kora … and if they are incapable of doing so, then they should find another profession or simply ask the western audience to go listen to Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart or Beethoven. Mandinkas are nothing without the Kora, and the kora is for the preservation of the tradition, without which Mandinka are nothing/ The Kora MIUST be safeguarded and preserve. NO, I will not be listing nor viewing another charlatan griot Boom Boom Killer. STICK to tradition or GET OUT.

[@mafuconteh]

@@Gluluman wow your missing out, Mafu is one of the best kora players in the world in my opinion. The fact is the kora musicians would starve to death with your requirements unfortunately. No one is supporting them to remain traditional. Honestly I appreciate your sentiment but I know it's not financially feasible. Do you personally know how hard it is to do what you're asking of them? Ironically I remember Jali resisting the change to a more modern kora. Like you he was concerned about preserving tradition. But when he moved to the UK he had no choice but to adopt a more modern kora. Blessings brother