Djelimady N1

With this album, Ballaké pays tribute to his father, Djelimady Sissoko, a brilliant kora player of whom very few recordings remain. His father was affectionately nicknamed Djelimady No. 1 because of his prominent role in Mali's national orchestra (the Instrumental Ensemble of Mali), which he co-founded in 1962. Ballaké has brought together a small ensemble for the project: two additional koras, a ngoni, and a sokou (violin). On vocals, he has invited Piers Faccini and singer Fatim Kouyaté.