Hailing from a long tradition of Malian kora players, Ballaké Sissoko has worked with renowned musicians such as Toumani Diabaté and Taj Mahal, and is widely known as one of the greatest kora players in our time. He first appeared at SMF in 2011 with French cellist Vincent Segal as part of an original production called African Interplay. That captivating instrumental duo returned to Savannah in 2013. Open to every new adventure and encounter, Ballaké Sissoko is wholly inspired by tradition but has also been able to forge a personal style. A visionary player with undeniable technical prowess and a distinct voice, he is also an inventive accompanist. This special solo performance is the only one of his 2016 tour in the U.S., where he performs as part of Kassé Mady Diabaté’s ensemble in another SMF original production.