Gambian master kora player and singer-songwriter, Suntou Susso, is embarking on a 3-month solo UK tour to celebrate his latest album ‘Jaliya Silokang – The Path of a Griot’. The kora is a 22-string West African harp and is rooted in Mandinka culture. Susso himself is a Gambian Griot – a historian, storyteller, and peacekeeper. Whilst his tour may be UK-based, his message for the world is universal: protect this planet.
Speaking about the album ahead of his solo tour, Suntou says:
“With this album I wanted to communicate to the young generation in terms of the environmental message and our culture, the importance of preserving it, and want the role of a Griot to be recognised for its important role during these crises. I have given it all my best as a young Griot, to make a change and inspire young people, and protect the planet we live on.”
On the superb single ‘Yirolu Bala (Within The Trees)’, Sentou Susso sings “don’t cut the trees” over intricate kora fingerwork and sweeping string arrangements. Whilst the music itself is a lucious, warm track, tinged with a note of sombre foreboding, it is also a call to action. Susso’s vocals are impassioned and so is his kora, with moments of transendant unveiling. It’s beautiful and carries heart and peace with its warning.
‘The Future is Ancestral Solo Tour’ runs from the Spring equinox through until mid June and covers many cities and towns. Locations include Cornwall, Cardiff, Somerset, Bristol, Nottingham, Newcastle, Edinburgh, and Bath. I’ll be personally hoping to get to the Cambridge show, to experience the kora live in person. For more information about the tour and the album, visit Suntou Susso’s website.
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