User:Vieux Cissokho

Born in Ziguinchor, Southern Senegal, Vieux is a Griot man carrying the lineage of his Cissokho kinsfolk whose music and stories are passed through the generations from father to son. Destined to be a Kora player, he was raised to the sounds of song, story and the instrument which cannot be taught, but teaches in its own way through a traditional apprenticeship of living the music. Today he carries the lineage and passes it on through live performance which expresses the raw beauty of Africa, the passion of human expression, and the rich beauty of life. A seasoned musician and composer, sharing the music that lives in his soul. '''Vieux Aliou Cissokho is the first African Kora player that based into Asia. Ziguinchor is a dusty and vibrant city where people of different ethnicities live along side one another, his home town is one of the most interesting and inspiring musical centres in West Africa. He is a charismatic live performer,all of his family are kora players, a traditional Griot Family where music and stories are passed down through generations from father to son. He was educated in this traditional way and you could say he was destined to become a kora player. Music was part of his everyday life whether in his grandfather’s compound, out in the streets or as the centre of the many local celebrations. He launched his national career in 2000 under support and the guidance of his cousin Seckou Keita in the United Kingdom, Everything in music has to be honest, and the deeper meanings of the songs and melodies must be preserved ,it’s important that collaborations should be right for the music, and there are connections between, say, Cuban and Indian sounds and the repertoire of the kora that can be explored without losing the distinct flavours of the different traditions and styles...'