Composers Fund Grantee: Seckou Keita

Seckou Keita first concerto for Kora

Since 1996, Seckou Keita started an epic creative journey that has seen him broaden the idiomatic scope of the Kora as well as spread his wings, literally and figuratively. Acclaimed collaborations with numerous jazz and folk artists, notably Omar Sosa, Antonio Forcione, Adriano Adewale and Catrin Finch, enabled him to make the kora more visible on the international scene.

With a 10-album discography to his name Keita has been a recording artist since the late ‘90s, and he has grown creatively to the extent that he can now rise to the challenge of placing the kora in an orchestral setting. “If the writing for kora and n’goni had been preserved over the years they would also qualify as classical instruments, but because they are traditional they are not seen that way.”

Working with Italian arranger Davide Mantovani, Seckou will recorded 60 mn of pure magie in partnership with BBC Concert Orchestra. This is Seckou’s first concerto for Kora, and thus gives the kora the pride of place occupied for centuries by the violin, piano and flute. It is entirely possible that Bach, had he travelled to Africa in his lifetime, might have composed for kora. Seckou Keita builds on that notion by way of his own imagination, which is greatly sparked by his lengthy fascination with crossing cultural borders. The journey is a truly enthralling one.