Tamalalou: Journey to the Heart of Guinea is the story of Ba Cissoko,
a master kora player from Guinea, West Africa, one of the poorest
countries on earth, who, with support from his family and against all
odds, has soared to international World Music renown.

We follow Ba’s journey from the isolated ancestral village of Koundala,
where his talent was nurtured by his great-uncle M’Bady Kouyate,
(one of Guinea’s important elders and absolute maestros of the kora),
to the great stages of the world.

The younger generation’s important links to the old ones and their own
pushing of boundaries is played out in a story that takes us into the heart
of one of the ancient continuous music cultures on earth.

The fabric of life in Guinea today is held together by the musical and
story-telling wisdom of the ancient past (for young and old alike) in the
midst of profound poverty. The family of Ba Cissoko exemplifies this
bond and shows the world a side of Africa rarely seen, as well as a
different side to the face of Islam.

DOWNLOAD PDF FILES
Overview
About the Filmakers
Music Reviews
Ba Cissoko Foundation
Background on Guinea
Guinea in Crisis