Balla Tounkara

Ballad Tonkawa, a griot and master kora player from Mali, West Africa, is one of the hottest artists on America's world music scene. His music represents the best of tradition and innovation. A native of Mali, West Africa, and schooled in the discipline of traditional African music, he brings an incredible ear for structure and rhythmic nuance to contemporary styles from rock, reggae and hip-hop to gospel and blues.

A true virtuoso of the kora, he can make its harp-like strings produce the hummingbird trills of traditional African melodies, or belt out the soulful bass tones of the blues.

Ballad has performed with some of the biggest names in African music — Salix Keita; Baba Mail; Baba Olontunje — but his inspiration comes from daily life, from the sounds of the street, from the melting pot of musical styles he finds in his new home in Boston.

He and his band, Groupe Spirit, have been bringing a spicy, eclectic blend of African, Latin, funk, reggae and blues to enthusiastic audiences across the country. Speaking out on important social issues such as AIDS and violence, Balla is raising awareness and moving feet and souls along the way.

In 2002, Groupe Spirit was nominated Outstanding World Music Act at the Boston Awards, and their recording of "Le Monde est Fou" was included on the Putumayo compilation From Congo to Cuba. —Courtesy Calabash Music