Aboulaye Koné Rendez-vous Mandingue avec Mohamed Mara

LES ÉTOILES NUITS D’AFRIQUE presented by La Fabrique Culturelle de Télé-Québec

Having deep roots allows for the free exploration of distant horizons without the fear of becoming lost. This is something that Zal Sissokho understands well, having embraced a variety of genres, from bossa nova to flamenco, not to mention Québecois folk traditions, all of which have opened his world to new friendships without him ever losing his own identity. In fact, his sixth album, La Source, released last fall under the Disques Nuits d’Afrique label, reveals the depth of this griot’s attachment to his Mandinka origins. With all the authenticity for which he is known, this transmitter of history brings the essence of the kora to the fore using a “rather contemporary” approach, combining “leaping bass, tribal percussive rhythms and lively guitar accents” (La Presse, 2023).