What's Happening in San Francisco, CA…

A musician who is a master of the West African stringed instrument, the kora, will appear in San Francisco.

Seckou Keita is from Senegal, and plays the drums as well as the kora. He specializes in the kora music from the southern part of Senegal, known as Casamance, which is less well-known that other types of Senegalese music.

Keita is a native of Ziguinchor, and his talent comes naturally since the Cissokhos, his mother’s family, are hereditary musicians. Keita’s uncle Solo Cissokho helped him launch his career in 1996, when he began appearing at festivals, including the Norway Forde Festival. On that occasion, he enjoyed a successful collaboration with musicians from Scandinavia, India, and Cuba.

He moved to the United Kingdom, but continued touring, playing at notable festivals, and collaborating with famed musicians such as Dr. L. Subramaniam, an Indian violinist.

Keita continued developing his skill with the kora both as a soloist and supporting other performers. In 2001, he was nominated for the prestigious World Music Award, given by BBC Radio 3. In 2004, he formed the Seckou Keita Quartet, expanding it to a quintet when his sister, Binta Susso, joined as a vocalist.

Keita is based near Nottingham and in addition to performing, runs kora and drumming workshops. He will appear at the SFJAZZ Center on March 8. Shows like this can benefit when organizers use poster printing to create colorful advertisements for them.