Noumoucounda
An Evening with Griot Musician and Master Kora Player
Sometimes the best things happen on a whim. This past Wednesday, I hosted an incredibly special, last-minute house concert with Noumoucounda, a master Griot musician from Dakar, Senegal. This wasn’t just any concert.
Noumoucounda and Moda, his manager, had just been on Life.Style.Live on WISH-TV that morning, performing live on air and sharing the magic of the kora with the whole city and promoting the house concert. That same evening, he was in my living room, bringing his music directly to our community.
Meet Noumoucounda: A Kora Master
Noumoucounda comes from a big family (caste system) of kora players on both his mother’s and father’s sides. His father was a legendary kora player, traveling the world and performing for presidents and even Mahatma Gandhi. Noumoucounda trained at the Dakar Conservatory and went on to explore modern music, performing with Positive Black Soul, one of Africa’s first hip-hop groups, and collaborating with artists like Yo-Yo Ma, Alpha Blondy, MC Solaar, Ernest Ranglin, Youssou N’Dour, and Stromae.
He’s a musician who blends deep tradition with creativity and curiosity and is a true “urban griot.”
The Ancient Kora Up Close
The kora is a 21-stringed African harp with over 800 years of history. It was used in ceremonies to honor kings, heal, preserve stories, and was even played at funerals for important figures. Noumoucounda’s technique is mesmerizing: bass notes are closer to him, higher notes farther away, plucked with thumbs and pointer fingers, and the instrument is held by the two vertical sticks that run through the instrument.
Melissa Gallant, a local classical harpist who had played in a house concert before, was there. She was curious about the instrument and the technique for how it is played. Other local musicians came too, drawn by this rare chance to see a master at work.
Noumoucounda owns several koras, and his cousin in Philadelphia also makes them. In his family, the younger people are not interested in the old instrument, and it's an ancestral knowledge that is fading.
A Night to Remember
Even though it was a small, mid-week crowd, the energy in the room was incredible. Noumoucounda’s music crosses language barriers. He speaks only French, so Moda Diagne, CEO of Modarts Management LLC, graciously interpreted for us. His performance was intimate, alive, and completely unique.
Guests got to see the kora played by someone who truly lives and breathes the tradition, while also pushing its boundaries in modern music. The performance offered guests a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience one of the world’s greatest kora masters in person!
Grateful for the Experience
Hosting Noumoucounda was an opportunity that won’t be forgotten. This evening reminded us how music connects people, preserves culture, and creates memorable and impactful moments.
For everyone who attended, it was a rare chance to witness a living tradition up close.
