Biography
Ba Cissoko stands among the foremost exponents of the kora while carrying forward a griot inheritance of master singers, storytellers, and kora players, a lineage so closely tied to his surname that it has come to signify kora mastery itself. Although his father enjoyed national recognition as a performer, the young Ba showed little interest in either music or academic pursuits and instead devoted himself to soccer. His uncle M'Baty Kouyate responded to this indifference by taking the boy on as an apprentice, imparting the fundamentals of kora technique and bringing him along on performances at village gatherings and celebrations throughout the region. The pair soon expanded their appearances to urban centers such as Conakry and Bissao, later extending their travels into neighboring Gambia and Senegal. Cissoko eventually established himself in Conakry, where he joined the staff of the National Children's Theatre before advancing to the National Instrumental Ensemble of Guinea, again under his uncle's guidance. While performing with that ensemble he began appearing in hotels and bars, blending the traditional repertoire with jazz, reggae, and additional contemporary currents. In 1992 he joined French trumpet and kora player Gilles Poizat to form the group Tamalalou, which presented concerts across Guinea and France at major national venues and festivals. After the band dissolved several years later, Cissoko assembled his own ensemble featuring cousins Kourou Cissoko and Sekou Cissoko. Launched in 1999, the group sustained an active touring calendar and cultivated substantial followings both in France and at home. Cissoko issued his first recording, Sabolan, in 2003. Alongside his musical work he launched an extensive tour through Europe and Japan aimed at improving working and living conditions in Guinea. Building on that visibility, Cissoko and his collaborators prepared a second album that further broadened the music's stylistic range by adding electronic effects and English-language hip-hop lyrics. With the 2007 release of Electric Griot Land, Cissoko entered the American market through a wide-ranging tour of the United States.
Albums
