'Kora is a special musical instrument'

Says Solo Cissokho, the internationally acclaimed Kora player
He creates an entirely new world when he takes the center stage and plays his state of the art instrument Kora. He has taken the national instrument of Senegal to the world and has won accolades from BBC as well. Performing round the globe, Solo Cissokho is a house on fire when he is on stage, with childlike energy, and almost a contagious smile, Solo comes out as a jaunty person.
So what makes Kora so special? He says, “Kora is a national instrument of Senegal, that is one reason it is special. To add to it, it’s a tradition which a father passes on to his son and it takes almost 7 years to make it and while you are learning to make it you can start learning it. Only when you have acquired complete hold on the instrument that you can start learning it.” He adds, “Then you are supposed to learn as many as 150 songs to be christened as a Kora player. So it’s a tough journey.”
And so has he passed it on to his son? He says, “Oh yes, my eldest son is 19 and has learnt 50 songs as of now, but he still has to go a 100 more. That is a long journey still.”
So for someone who has taken the national instrument on the world level, we wish him all the very best.