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Aliou Gassama is a Kora maker from Senegal. Aliou was adopted by Jaly Messin Cissokho who taught him how to make and play the Kora. The Kora is a West African harp lute, it usally has 21 strings but can have many more(Alou's adopted father played with 28!) the strings are fishing line. The Kora is made with a Calabash which is a fruit here in Senegal, it is cut in half and a cow skin is streched over the Calabash. The kneck and the handle is made of wood called 'Bois de veine' Please look at the photos. Aliou has made Koras for Seckou Keita, Filly Cissokho,Sadio Cissokho, Mamodou Ndaiye Cissokho,Maher cissokho and many, many more. Aliou also made the double headed Kora for Seckou Keita and Sadio Cissokho.