"If Eric Clapton played kora, this is surely what he would sound like."

           National Geographic Music

Ba Cissoko rose from the small West African village of Koundara to become a giant on the World Music scene. He is considered a ‘post modern griot (who projects) himself in the future without ever forgetting that glorious past’.

Ba’s band was a runner-up for the BBC World Music Awards Best Newcomer Category in 2005 and made it to the finals off the RFI (Radio France International) World Music Awards in 2004. He is beloved in Guinea among young and old alike for his traditional kora-playing as well as for his musical innovations. He is the proud successor to his great-uncle M’Bady Kouyate, a cultural icon, and thus in charge of the well-being of two large extended families.

Ba also began an annual music festival in Guinea’s capital in 2005. It is growing every year and looks slated to become one of the world’s major African and International music festivals.

Ba walks in the company of renowned West African musicians such as Baaba Maal, Angelique Kidjo, Youssou N’Dour and Toumani Diabate, who work to help their communities and promote significant social change, through the messages in their music and extensive social programs.

Ba has a sustained commitment to use this model ecoproject for the wider good of Guinea. He and his family have proved themselves to be kind, honest, hard-working and unswervingly steadfast people, concerned with the wellbeing of others.

For 15 years, Ba has been on a one-man mission to help young up-and-coming musicians have a chance in the world.

Ba Cissoko says:
"I have opened a cultural centre in Conakry, Guinea’s capital called the Wakili Cultural Center, which means ‘the courageous people/ the brave ones’. The goal is to provide tools for cultural projects and to train adults and youth on the kora to awaken to the richness of our tradition. We have made kora quite cool, by playing with hip hop artists for instance, so lots of young people got interested in learning. 

At the center we give free kora lessons, as well as dance classes and theater with renowned teachers. There are rehearsal rooms and artists can do shows there, and often visiting artists from out of town stay at the centre. This structure also allows us to organize regular concerts and host musicians in residence. We also plan to open some budget-priced guest rooms with air-conditioning."