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Kora (instrument)

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A traditional West African kora, a 21-string bridge-harp used in music and storytelling.

The Beautiful Kora

The kora is a lovely musical instrument from West Africa. It has 21 strings that a player plucks with their fingers to make sweet music. The kora mixes the sounds of both a lute and a harp, making it special and unique.

The kora is made from a gourd that is cut in half and covered with cow skin to create a sound box. It has a long wooden neck and 21 strings that are played by plucking with the fingers. People have enjoyed its gentle, rich tones for many years, and it remains an important part of West African music and culture.

Kora players often come from families of traditional storytellers and historians. The instrument is popular in countries like Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, and Senegal. It was first found in the Gambia.

The kora is even mentioned in the national anthem of Senegal! In recent years, some players have used koras with 25 strings, mainly in Casamance, Senegal. Some players have special koras with two necks, letting them change the tuning quickly.

The kora is a wonderful instrument that makes beautiful music and tells stories of West Africa.

Images

Map showing the traditional range of the kora, a traditional string instrument.
A traditional wooden sculpture of a seated musician from the Dogon people of Mali, showcasing African art and cultural heritage.
A musician from Senegal plays the kora, a traditional stringed instrument, during a performance at a museum.
A musician tunes a kora, a traditional string instrument, during a global trade event.
A close-up of hands playing the strings of a 21-string Kora harp-lute, a traditional African musical instrument, in Rome, Italy.
A traditional Kora, a stringed musical instrument from Senegal, shown from four different angles.
A traditional Kora, a stringed musical instrument from Senegal, used in African music and storytelling.
A traditional West African kora, a stringed musical instrument played with the hands.
A traditional 21-string kora, a West African harp-lute played by musicians for storytelling and music.
Historical photograph of a traditional West African griot from the 1870s, capturing cultural heritage.
A historical image of a jeweller and traditional kora musicians in Senegal.
A Gambian musician playing the kora, a traditional stringed instrument made from a gourd.
The kora is a 21-string bridge-harp used extensively in West Africa
Traditional range of the kora

Related articles

Senegal
West Africa
Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
Mali

This article is a child-friendly adaptation of the Wikipedia article on Kora (instrument), available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

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