The story of the kora, one of Africa's most iconic and virtuosic instruments, is told here on film.
Ballaké Sissoko, the award-winning musician from Mali, takes us on a unique journey in search of the origins and development of the 21-string harp, through legend, history, tradition, and innovation.
After studying biology, Laurent Benhamou gravitated quickly towards his twin-loves: sound and vision. In 2008 he created Crunk, his own audio-visual production company, with music and musicians being central to his themes.
Lucy Durán is a Professor of Music at SOAS, University of London. She specialises in the music of Mali and Cuba. Between 2000-2013, she presented the BBC Radio 3 weekly programme World Routes. Her research on Mande music of West Africa dates back to the late 1970s.
Production Country, Year: France, 2023
Produced by: Oléo Films and Mad Minute Music
Producers: Corinne Serres and Samuel Thiebaut
Executive Producer: Marcelo Bueno
Director of Photography: Laurent Benhamou
Sound: Marie-Clotilde Chéry
Editor: Rémi Crépeau
ORIGINAL TITLE: BALLAKÉ SISSOKO: UNE HISTOIRE DE KORA
DIRECTED BY: LUCY DURÁN & LAURENT BENHAMOU
DURATION: 52:36’ | FRENCH AND BAMANANKAN WITH POLISH SUBTITLES