The first time I was told about Diali Cissokho someone compared him to Prince. Now, that is a bold statement to which i immediately responded with deep interest. I come to find out that he is indeed much like Prince in terms of his popularity in his homeland of Senegal. He is a master percussionist and vocalist with an entrancing presence that does indeed rival Prince. His main instrument, indigenous to Africa, the 21 stringed Kora (made from a gourd) is played with the the same amount of infectious gusto as his entrancing voice. He and his group Kairaba! will perform this Friday night at White Collar Crime in Raleigh.
From his website http://www.koraanddrums.com/
A renowned korist and percussionist from Senegal, Diali Keba
Cissokho has just arrived in the United States after years of performing and
teaching in Senegal and in Europe. Born into a rich ancestry of Manding griots
(the musician caste), Diali has been playing traditional West African music for
as long as he can remember. Diali’s greatest love is the kora, the 21-stringed
African “harp-lute” that is at the heart and soul of much West African music,
while he is also a passionate singer, percussionist and dancer. Crossing
cultural boundaries with a wide range of sounds, from explosive dance rhythms
to soothing hypnotic grooves, Diali brings an unparalleled virtuosity with a
unique personal style to this respected traditional art form.
