World Wide Wednesdays@Chelmsford presents:

Balla Tounkara
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
6:30 - 8 p.m.
at the MacKay Library

On Wednesday, July 22nd, Balla Tounkara will perform at the Chelmsford Public Library¹s World Wide Wednesdays @ Chelmsford summer concert series.

The music of Balla Tounkara of Mali represents the finest of traditional and innovative music of the old world and the new. Balla, a native of Mali, West Africa and a virtuoso on the Kora was schooled in traditional African music and born into a family of musicians, into the tradition of “griot” or troubadour. Balla is able to make the harp-like strings of the Kora ring like hummingbird trills of traditional African melodies or sing the soulful bass tones of the blues. Balla says that the Kora can play any music in the world, and views his instrument and music as a spiritual accompaniment of his feelings on life, religion, politics, and culture.

With his band, he plays traditional music and contemporary styles from Reggae, Hip-hop, Gospel, to Rock and Blues. Balla’s singing and vocal styles are derived from his mother, Miriam Kanoute and grandmother Mah Diagansira, acclaimed vocalists in West Africa. It is with this traditional foundation that Balla travels on his musical and spiritual journey to carry on his musical message to the world. His sounds of Africa and America echo a tale of two worlds expressed with Balla’s musical experience

The program is free and open to the public. For more information call 978-256-5521, ext. 214.