Manding Melody featuring Habib Koite and Sura Susso

Soulful vocals, shimmering kora melodies and complex rhythmic Malian guitar in this special collaboration.

An innovative and refreshing approach to creativity that will take listeners and audiences on a journey through West Africa, grounded with traditions full of joyful melodic vibes in a setting celebrating friendship and culture.

Manding Melody features Mali’s redoubtable troubadour and guitarist Habib Koite and the charismatic Gambian kora maestro and singer Sura Susso, presenting their newly recorded intergenerational, cross-cultural project which celebrates the powerful ‘griot’ narratives of traditional Manding folk tales and stories, told through modern musical styles.

West Africa’s griots (in Mandinka language known as Jeli) are traditional storytellers, poets, historians, musicians, and praise singers. They maintain and share traditions, cultural heritage, values and history. They originated in the 13th century within the Mande Empire of Mali. Since then, the oral tradition has been handed down through specific Manding griot families (in Mali, Senegal, Gambia, Guinea) of which both Sura and Habib were born into.

Traditional instruments used by griots include the kora, balafon and ngoni.

Manding Melody highlights some of these instruments, intertwined with contemporary musical instruments and styles. The result is a blend that refreshes and revives ancient stories and musical traditions.