About
A perennial festival favourite, the enchanting Nuit de la kora concerts showcase the understated virtuosos of this legendary instrument whose crystalline sound embodies the story of West Africa—past, present, and future.
“Senny Camara knows how to strike a chord as much with her voice as with the instruments she caresses with her fingers,” (Libération, 2024). Bold and determined, this alum of the Conservatoire in Dakar and Conservatoire de St Denis is one of just a handful of female kora players. As a musician, singer and composer, her art is rooted in Serer, Mandinka, Fulani, and Lebou cultures, as she looks to new horizons on a quest for harmony and liberty while pushing musical boundaries by blending folk, blues, and sacred music.
The common thread in all of Yamoussa Bangoura’s projects, the demanding kora is also his trusted companion. Whether he is playing in a large-scale circus-style production with Kalabanté or more intimate moments like here tonight, time is always suspended when Yamoussa’s fingers deftly bring his kora’s 21 strings alive. A seasoned multidisciplinary artist, he takes us on an ancient musical journey to explore the soul of West Africa and the spirit of its people.
