Balla Tounkara

Balla was born in Mali, West Africa into one of the most prestigious griot families in that country. Griots, the musicians, oral historians, storytellers, and peacemakers, date back to ancient times and although their roles have changed the tradition lives on.Balla began playing the kora (a 21 stringed instrument) as a child. He received his first kora from his grandfather, Batouroue Sekou Kouyate, one of the most respected players of that instrument in the world. Balla studied the kora with his grandfathers, Batouroue and Samakou Tounkara, He learned to respect the music and maintain the cultures history as well as his family history. His deep devotion to Manding music and his rich education has lead Balla to become a master kora player and vocalist.Balla became interested in the possibilities of the kora beyond traditional Mande music. He was listening more and more to Western music, expanding his knowledge and wondering how his approach to playing the kora could be integrated with jazz, rock and blues. He left Mali in 1996 and settled in United States of America to develop and enrich his music, playing with accomplished Western musicians in the styles he was most interested in. He soon began to fuse traditional Mande music with all styles of music from jazz to funk to rock to hip hop and R & B to Latin to reggae.Balla eventually formed his own group, Groupe Spirit. Although the members have changed throughout the years, the mission has remained the same, fusing traditional Mande music with Western music creating high energy, intelligent music. They perform a spicy, eclectic blend of African, Latin, Funk,and blues that can electrify any audience.