2009-01-18 - Balla Tounkara at the unique ball celebrating the historic inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama as the 44th president of the United States of America, will be held from 7 p.m. to midnight at the Hilton Washington, D.C./Silver Spring hotel

2008-12-08 - Springstep of MA present Balla Tounkara & Group Spirit,Springstep 98 George P Hassett Drive,Medford,MA Show time from 8:00 to 10:30 PM

2008-08-16 - New African Production presnts Balla Tounkara & Group Spirit Saturday,August 16,2008 at JOE'S PUB 425 Lafayette Street Bet East 4th and Astor Place in New york's East village Shows starts@11:30 PM Doors opend 11:00 PM

2008-08-07 - Golden Bough Production,present Balla Tounkara and His Trio August 7/2008 on Consert Providence RI Vally St prov RI,show time from 5:30 PM to 7:00 pm outdoor consert

To see all past and future shows click here

For booking and information contact:
Balla Tounkara
djeli_balla@hotmail.com
617-224-6502

Links Mailing List

Balla Tounkara, a griot and master kora player from Mali, West Africa, is one of the hottest artists on America's World Music scene. He and his band Groupe Spirit have been bringing a spicy, eclectic blend of danceable music utilizing African, Latin, Funk, Reggae, Jazz and Blues musical styles to enthusiatic audiences across the country. Balla Tounkara was born into the griot tradition of Mali, the center of the ancient Manding Empire of West Africa. Historically, the griot’s role in the Malian royal court was to praise the the king and his warriors, and orally maintain the history of its society through music. Balla, whose ancestors were chiefs of the griots, began to play the kora (the original 21 string harp of Africa) as a child and honed his skills through years of strict discipline and commitment. Under the tutelage of his internationally acclaimed grandfathers, Batrou Sekou Kouyate and Samakou Tounkara, he learned to respect the significance of this royal music, becoming a master kora player and vocalist in his own right. Balla’s task and passion today remains in continuing the maintenance of his culture and family history, the playing of Manding music and the making of new music by fusing western styles of Jazz, Rock, Funk, HipHop, Reggae, Country, Blues, Folk and R&B.