AFROJAM LIVE MUSIC SERIES: YACOUBA SISSOKO

Yacouba Sissoko

Master kora player Yacouba Sissoko devotes his musical gift to expanding the awareness of West African history and culture, spreading the word of peace, and empowering his listeners to take charge and realize their imagined futures. His performances have a magical effect on audiences as he skillfully transforms traditional songs and stories that he learned from his forefathers into modern-day messages of peace, love, and harmony.

Yacouba exposes new audiences to the enchanting sounds of the kora—a 21-stringed instrument that is plucked and produces a distinctive sound that is quickly associated with West Africa. Throughout West African history, the kora was played as a solo instrument by djelys, or storytellers, whose roles in society were to perform for kings, nobility, and village chiefs. The songs sung by djelys were stories that had been passed down from generation to generation and captured the oral history of the people and culture of West Africa describing social life, cultural identity, and family backgrounds.

Yacouba also leads his own band, SIYA, meaning “source” in Bambara. The sound of SIYA represents the breakthrough of the past few generations of Western African musicians who have opened up this musical experience to new audiences, incorporating additional instruments and spanning musical genres. The other instruments of SIYA include the N’goni, a traditional guitar that was used by griots during the Manding Empire prior to the kora; the “talking drum”, a small drum held on the shoulder of the player and hit with a curved stick or the hand to mimic phrases of the human voice, requiring great dexterity by the player; the calabash, that is easily recognized by its deep resounding bass sound frequent to West African music; and an acoustic guitar and/or trumpet both of which adds to the more modern approach.

Food and drinks will be available to purchase

Drink Special

$40 Rum Punch Bottle

***Allergy Alert***

Please be advised that food prepared here may contain these ingredients or traces of these ingredients: Milk, Eggs, Wheat, Gluten, Peanuts, Honey, Tomatoes, Soybeans, Tree Nuts, Fish, and Shellfish.

ALL PACKAGES REQUIRE % A 50 DEPOSIT. THERE WILL BE NO PACKAGES OR BOTTLE SERVICE ON THE DAY OF THE EVENT. GROUP PACKAGE ( CASH/ CASHAPP / ZELLE/ VENMO ONLY)

$400 SLIVER (4 GUESTS ) with free express entry

A CHOICE OF ANY ONE OF THESE: JACK DANIELS, TITOS or HENNESSY

$500 GOLD (6 GUESTS) with free express entry

A CHOICE OF ANY TWO OF THESE: JACK DANIELS, TITOS, HENNESSY, OR GRAND MARNIER

$800 PLATINUM (10 Guests) with free express entry

A CHOICE OF ANY THREE OF THE: JACK DANIELS, TITOS, HENNESSY, OR A COMBINATION OF ANY.

Tip and Gratuity are additional

***Allergy Alert***

Please be advised that food prepared here may contain these ingredients or traces of these ingredients: Milk, Eggs, Wheat, Gluten, Peanuts, Honey, Tomatoes, Soybeans, Tree Nuts, Fish, and Shellfish.

Host or Publisher AfroJam