PLAYlist Concert Series: Diali Cissokho and Kaira Ba

Before radio, before internet, Griot musicians and storytellers both entertained and educated their audiences. Diali Cissokho, originally from Senegal, explores the spiritual songs, stories, and rhythms of Senegal’s millenia-old Mandé culture. Cissokho comes from a long line of prominent griots who are entrusted to maintain a West African village’s genealogies and important ceremonial affairs through song. Cissokho and his band, Kaira Ba, effortlessly integrate the traditional sounds of the kora with a modern rush of electric guitar and an exuberant rhythm section. Together, they sustain one of West Africa’s most expressive legacies with their own energetic interpretations. Kaira Ba is committed to sharing its story and music in the name of cross-cultural learning, believing that music has the power to transgress borders and serve as an important resource for education, restoration and healing.