Date aired: 5th June 2011
Playlist
Homeless - Paul Simon with Ladysmith Black Mambazo - album "Graceland" 1988
Ofana Naye (Nobody like him) - Ladysmith Black Mambazo - album "Two Worlds One Heart" 1990
Township Jive - Ladysmith Black Mambazo - album "Two Worlds One Heart" 1990
Jive Motella - Mahotella Queens - album "The Best of the Mahotella Queens"
Umculo Kawupheli (No end to music) - Mahotella Queens - album "The Best of the Mahotella Queens"
Welcome to Mali - Amadou and Mariam - album "Welcome to Mali"
Tekere - Salif Keita - album "Sounds of the Planet"
Laban - Sallif Keita - album "M'Bemba"
Jarabi - Toumani Diabate - album "Kaira"
Time to smile - Xavier Rudd and Izintaba - album "Koonyum Sun" 2010
The Reasons we were blessed - Xavier Rudd and Izintaba - album "Koonyum Sun" 2010
Badimo - Xavier Rudd and Izintaba - album "Koonyum Sun" 2010
The Mandinka kora is a unique instrument with a harp-like appearance and a notched bridge similar to that of a lute or guitar. It sounds somewhat like a harp, but its intricate playing style can be closer to flamenco guitar.
The kora's body is made from a calabash gourd cut in half and partially covered with cow skin. Traditionally, there are twenty-one playing strings plucked by the thumb and forefinger of each hand. The remaining fingers grip the two vertical hand posts. For strings, players use fishing line which provides a brilliant tone and is easily obtained at the local market. Twenty-one anchor strings attach the playing strings to an iron ring bored through the base of the kora's hardwood neck. The player tunes the kora by moving the leather rings to achieve the appropriate tension on each string. Kora players use a variety of tunings.
From the website: Cora Connection.
