The Kora Café

Sura Susso UK Tour

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Gambian Kora player Sura Susso is doing an interesting mini-tour in the UK, with several gigs in Wales and one in Cornwall. The tour also features Mari Mathias on guitar and vocals, Anghara Iris on flute, and Amadou Diagne on percussion.

It’s described as a musical fusion of Mandinka and Welsh cultures.

20th February: Galeri, Caernarfon

21st February: Aberystwyth Arts Centre, Aberystwyth

25th February: Acapela Studio, Cardiff

6th March: The Queens Hall, Narberth

11th April: Wanderfal Festival, The Cornish Bank, Falmouth

Details for tickets here: https://chanyaculture.com/

Suntou Susso New Album

Thu, 02 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000

UK Based Kora player/multi-instrumentalist Suntou Susso has his debut album Kanefonyo out. It can be streamed (and bought) at https://suntoususso.bandcamp.com/album/kane-fonyo-never-give-up

He also has a UK tour with dates in October and November - details here: https://suntoususso.com/shows

Suro Susso Gigs

Fri, 17 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Gambian kora player Sura Susso has a couple of gigs in Wales (UK) in February.

Details as follows:

February 13th Elysium, 210 High Street, Swansea SA1 1PE
February 15th Neuadd Ogwen, Bethesda Price £12.50. Tickets here: https://neuaddogwen.com/en/events/sura-susso/

Seckou Keita Gig

Thu, 01 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Seckou Keita will be touring his new album ‘Homeland’ in the UK in late 2024, including a gig at The Fire Station in Sunderland.

More details here: https://www.thefirestation.org.uk/whats-on/206//seckou-keita-homeland

Death of Toumani Diabaté

Fri, 19 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The incredibly sad news that Toumani Diabaté has died in Bamako at the age of 58, has been posted by his son Sidiqui on social media. He had spent several days in hospital in Bamako prior to his death.

Kora Gigs in the North of England

Thu, 04 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0000

News of a couple of gigs in the North of England, in places where perhaps kora players don’t appear too often.

Suntou Susso is appearing at Barnoldswick Music & Arts centre in Lancashire on Tuesday 9th April. Details here: https://www.barnoldswickmusicandartscentre.com/suntou-susso

Seckou Keita is playing as part of the AKA Trio during the Swaledale Festival in June, at St. Andrews Church in Grinton, a small village in the Yorkshire Dales National Park. https://www.swalefest.org/Whats-On/Programme/EventId/5546/e/aka-trio-1-jun-2024

Sonah Jobarteh Upcoming Gigs

Mon, 26 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Sona Jobarteh is currently touring the US and Canada. She’s racking up the airmiles in the next few weeks, with some trips across the Atlantic, and performances at the following:

30th June - Mannheim, Germany 2nd July - Copenhagen, Denmark 9th July - North Sea Jazz Festival, Netherlands 16th July - Folk By The Oak, Hatfield House, UK 20th July - Nuits d’Afrique, Montreal, Canada

Seckou Keita New Album

Fri, 09 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Seckou Keita’s new album, African Rhapsodies, has been released on the Swiss record label, Claves. Details here: https://www.claves.ch/products/african-rhapsodies

It’s an orchestral suite, combining his kora with the BBC Concert Orchestra strings. The track Simply Beautiful Miro, has a certain amount of airplay on BBC Radio. It features cellist Abel Selaocoe duetting with the kora and is pretty representative of the album. You can hear it here, on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JRSmDb45vc

Kora Teacher

Mon, 14 Nov 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Belgian kora player Vincent Wilkin has put up a new website and some excellent videos for those wishing to learn kora, and to promote his work as a teacher.

Full details on his website: http://thekorateacher.org/

Toumani Diabate - Toumani, Family and Friends

Sun, 13 Nov 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Toumani Diabate’s Album - Toumani, Family and Friends is available at various streaming sites: https://toumanidiabate.lnk.to/ToumaniFamilyFriends

Quite a mix of musical styles, perhaps reflecting the number of guest stars (friends) appearing, including balafon player Néba Solo on the ballad “Life” and the song “Yako” with Fatoumata Diawara. Ivorien Meiway, best known for the Zoblazo style features on “Nadine Sankaré”.