Ballaké Sissoko and Derek Gripper

Two master musicians—one from Mali, the other from South Africa—come together in a spellbinding conversation between kora and guitar.

Ballaké Sissoko followed in his father’s footsteps, learning the kora from a young age. When he died, Sissoko, at just 13, took his father’s place in the Ensemble Instrumental National du Mali. In the decades that followed, Sissoko became known for his globally-minded explorations of the kora, working with musicians like Italian pianist Ludovico Einaudi, French cellist Vincent Segal, and forming the group 3MA with Moroccan oud player Driss el Maloumi and Madagascan valiha player Rajery. With each note he plays, Sissoko draws on a lifetime of learning, crafting music that feels both ancient and timeless.

Derek Gripper has been praised by Afropop Worldwide for his “impressive and passionate rendering of Malian music on classical guitar.” By incorporating the techniques and traditions of the kora into the guitar, he has taken the it to new creative and virtuosic heights. By partnering with griot legends like Toumani Diabaté and Sissoko, Gripper has been changing the face of the classical guitar, one collaboration at a time.

In 2024, Sissoko and Gripper released a self-titled album that was praised as a “mesmerizing collection of seven instrumental tracks reflecting spontaneity and mastery.” (All About Jazz) By combining their talents, the duo offers a meeting of string and spirit: lyrical, boundless, and utterly transportive.