We are a small UK company linked with craftsmen in Senegal and Mali. We make koras with machine heads, making them much easier to tune. Our koras are approximately 130cm (54") high and have good quality machine heads for ease of tuning. A standard kora has 21 treble machine heads. We use the sealed type, with a lovely smooth 14:1 mechanism.
Most of our kora bodies are made by Aliou Gassama in Senegal and are of exceptional
quality. The skins are taut and very white, due to his skill and experience. The
skin is treated with a non-
We use Sapele or Maple for the necks, as they are both very strong yet lighter in weight than the traditional Keno or Bubinga (often referred to as African Rosewood). They are also more readily available and sustainable woods, and give a fine finish. Bubinga is available as an option. The neck is varnished to maintain the wood’s natural colour and to prevent marking.
We sell a Standard Kora and a Professional Kora but you can also choose a Standard kora and then add the options that you want.
You can choose extra strings, different machine heads and microphone options as well
as things such as as stained and matching neck, handles and bridge, marquetry and
inlay work on the necks and bridge, plain or decorated calabashes, pickups and preamps,
gold-
If your budget is tight consider a kora kit. Assembling your own kora saves you £100 and will reduce any shipping costs too.
High quality, fairly-
at £450 plus delivery
Professional 22-
There is also a ‘Kora kit’. Everything you need to assemble your own kora, saving £100 on the Standard Kora price.
