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 Virtuoso korafolá A korafolá is a kora player in mandinka (who is able
to make the kora talk) - korafolálu, plural. and
griot, Jali Fily hails from Ziguinchor in the beautiful lush region of Casamance, Southern Senegal.
Fily was born into the famous family of
griots - Cissokho - and was taught to play the kora (a 21 string African harp) at the age of 6 by his father Jali Kemo Cissokho and later by his older brother
Solo Cissokho. His mother, singer Bintou Konte Cissokho, gave him the historical stories and songs and soon he was performing at local ceremonies in the region. At the age of 13, he formed his own
group, Coute Diomboulo, and later performed as a solo artist throughout southern Senegal. His compositions and skillful mixing of the rhythms of south and north Senegal eventually took him to the
capital Dakar where he sang and played the kora in more commercial settings with other groups, blending traditional skills with modern sounds.
He was first invited to Europe in 2002 to tour with the family group founded by his brother Solo, JalikundaJalikunda is an explosive cocktail of spiritual Afro-Mandinka music, inspired by the songs, dances and rhythms from Casamance in Southern Senegal... Read more. - winner of the
BBC3 World Music Award, 2004. His UK appearances have included the WOMAD, Glastonbury and Larmer Tree Festivals, the Oxford Zodiac (supporting the Kathryn Tickell Band), the Oxford Water Festival
(« His music moved people to tears ») and Modern Art Oxford. He has also performed on David Attenborough's BBC TV Documentary « Elephants » for composer Will Gregory (of « Goldfrapp » fame), and more
recently for A. R. Rahman, composer of the score for « Slumdog Millionaire ».
 Now resident in the UK, he has been working with the support of Oxford Contemporary Music, Oxford Brookes University, Right Angle
Productions (Oxford Experimental Digital Music Workshops) and others. Jali Fily is experienced in one-to-one, hands-on tuition and also group workshops for schools, universities and festivals. His
sympathetic and adaptable approach provides empathy with all age groups, ranging from pre-school to adult. He is available as a solo artist but also interested in working with other world musicians.
His versatility enables him to deliver not only his traditional music but to fuse easily with other styles, for example, classical, afro, cuban, blues and jazz.
Fily has made 2 CDs, the second, 'Doumajoulo' with a number of other Senegalese musicians. This, together with his
acclaimed solo album, is available from Kaira-Arts (sales) and he is currently recording a third album to be issued later in 2010 : Alabaraka Mussolu (issued !).
« My aim, » he says, « is to bring KAIRA (peace) to all through my music. »
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