ateliers
d'ethnomusicologie

Kora mandingue

Sankoum Cissokho

Africa | Instruments & repertories

The traditional kora belongs to the African harp family. Of Mandinka origin, we find the first traces of it in fifteenth century Sahelian Africa.

Its resonance box consists of cow skin stretched over a half gourd. 21 strings made of animal innards are attached to a long stick that stretches the length of this gourd. Two wooden stems are in turn attached to the gourd and to the stick, thus allowing the musicians to hold the instrument with three fingers, leaving the thumbs and index fingers free to play.

Sankoum is member of the band "Agua Bendita" with whom he plays regularly in Geneva..

Bio

Sankoum Cissokho was born into a family of griots (bards) in Dakar, Senegal. He learnt the kora from his father, Bacary Cissokho, and has practiced since his childhood. His great mastery of the instrument and his creativity allow him to play traditional pieces, as well as reggae or salsa. His playing reflects a great sensitivity, depth and spirit.

Sankoum participated in Ninki-Nanka’s tour of Gambia in 2000. He has played for both the King of Algeria and the King of Morocco, and toured China in 2008. He accompanied the Sillaba de Thiaroye ballet, which he directed in collaboration with his brother Moussa and sister Sira. He has participated several times in the annual Festival du conte et de la parole that takes place in Senegal. In 2007, he participated in the Kay Fecc festival in Dakar. He has also worked with numerous artists.

PLACE :
Ateliers d'ethnomusicologie
10, rue de Montbrillant - 1201 Geneva
Possibilité of home lessons

 

TIMETABLE :
Mercredi de 18h à 19h ou à convenir

FEES:

Private lessons

1 cours : 60 min. :  90 CHF  -  90 min. :  120 CHF 
Subscription 12 cours during 60 min. : 930 CHF  - 90 min. : 1’290 CHF

 

Groupe lessons ( 2 - 4 students)

1 cours : 60 min. :  55 CHF - 90 min. :  75 CHF
Subscription 12 cours during 60 min. :  560 CHF - 90 min. : 800 CHF

Possibilité to pay the subscription in 2 times

Kora location :  80 CHF/month

 

CONTACT :
T : 078 967 75 49 
Email : cissokhom@bluewin.ch

Discover other classes

Dances of Azerbaijan and Georgia

New program

With Mariya Khan

These dances belong to several distinct categories: work dances, ritual dances, military dances and women's traditional dances. Attention is drawn to the upper part of the body: the head, the movements of the arms and hands, as well as the dancer's facial expression.

Hindustani Music : Santur, sitar or tablas

Paul Grant

Paul Grant is a musician and teacher who has spent more than 35 years dedicated to the study of Eastern music.  He is known for his mastery of the santoor in a variety of classical repertoires, including Indian, Persian, Afghan and Kashmiri. In addition to being proficient on the tabla and sitar, he has restored and made several instruments in his existential quest for perfect sound!

Introducton to Gnawa music

Khalil Bensid

Gnawa music originated in the Maghreb from the cultural practices that Black African slaves brought with them. It is called Gnawa in Morocco, Diwan in Algeria, and Stambali in Tunisia and Libya.

BHARATA NATYAM

Sujatha Venkatesh

Bharat Natyam is the most ancient style of traditional dance in India. It is a difficult and complex dance, in which each movement of the body (abhinaya) and each hand gesture (mudra) holds symbolic meaning. What appears to be so fluid, graceful and easy demands lengthy training and daily practice.