Zal Sissokho Explained

Zal Sissokho is a Senegalese-Canadian musician based in Montreal, Quebec.^[1] He is most noted for his 2020 album Kora Flamenca,^[2] an exploration of the fusion of African kora with Spanish flamenco which won the Félix Award for World Music Album of the Year at the 42nd Félix Awards.^[3] The album has also been shortlisted for the Juno Award for World Music Album of the Year at the Juno Awards of 2021,^[4] and won the Canadian Folk Music Award for World Music Album of the Year at the 16th Canadian Folk Music Awards.^[5]

Sissokho, who moved to Canada in 1999, founded the band Buntalo in 2004.^[6] His music draws on the griot tradition of West African storytelling and music.^[7] In addition to Kora Flamenca, he has released three albums with Buntalo, and one album as a trio with musicians Marcus Viana and Ibrahima Gaye.

Discography

• Silaba (2008, with Buntalo)^[6]
• Le Partage (2012, with Buntalo)^[8]
• Famalé (2015, with Marcus Viana and Ibrahima Gaye)^[9]
• Le Palabre (2017, with Buntalo)^[1]
• Kora Flamenca (2020)

Notes and References

1. Maryse Jobin, "Le griot de Montréal Zal Sissokho et son troisième album « La Palabre »". Radio Canada International, March 24, 2017.
2. Alexandre Vigneault, "Emballant flamenco africain". La Presse, February 25, 2020.
3. https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/1745209/premier-gala-adisq-pierre-lapointe-cowboys-fringants-musique-felix "Premier Gala de l'ADISQ : tour du chapeau pour Les Cowboys Fringants"
4. Holly Gordon, "The Weeknd, JP Saxe, Jessie Reyez and Justin Bieber lead 2021 Juno Award nominations". CBC Music, March 9, 2021.
5. https://www.fyimusicnews.ca/articles/2021/04/11/pharis-jason-romero-head-cfma-winners-list "Pharis & Jason Romero Head CFMA Winners List"
6. https://www.thesuburban.com/arts_and_entertainment/entertainment/festival-international-nuits-d-afrique-continues-on/article_0fcb2dd4-1706-11eb-9c8f-2fdb7cb8db29.html "Festival International Nuits D’Afrique continues on"
7. Yves Bernard, "Zal Sissokho en spectacle ce soir au Lion d'Or - Le sage, le message et le partage". Le Devoir, March 7, 2012.
8. Ralph Boncy, "Zal Sissokho: Le partage". Voir, March 15, 2012.
9. Yves Bernard, "Famalé, Montréal, le Brésil et l’Afrique". Le Devoir, July 13, 2015.