From the West African country of Mali, kora master Mamadou Diabate and his ensemble of balafon, bass, percussion and guitar bring world rhythms to central Kentucky in a concert at Berea College Feb. 22. The performance, scheduled for 8 p.m. in Phelps Stokes Chapel, features the kora - a traditional 21-stringed instrument from West Africa – in a blending of African and African American musical genres.

Interested in bringing the kora to new audiences, Mamadou has played with jazz and other contemporary artists, but remains rooted in the traditions of the kora and his family’s griot (musical storytelling) heritage.

The Manding kora is a unique instrument with a harp-like appearance and a notched bridge similar to that of a lute or guitar. It sounds somewhat like a harp, but its intricate playing style can be closer to flamenco guitar. The kora's body is made from a calabash gourd cut in half and partially covered with cow skin. Traditionally, there are twenty-one playing strings.

Mamadou’s family of griots, or jelis as they are known among the Mandinka people, are more than just traditional musicians. They use music and sometimes oratory to preserve and sustain people's consciousness of the past, a past that stretches back to the 13th century. The kora is a central musical instrument in this tradition.

Mamadou learned to play from his father. As a teenager, he began playing the kora for local jeli singers, and traveling throughout the region to play at the ceremonies where modern jelis ply their trade, mostly weddings and baptisms. When he was fifteen, Mamadou won first prize for his kora playing in a regional competition and instantly became something of a local celebrity.

In 1996, a touring group from the Instrumental Ensemble of Mali offered Mamadou the chance to travel to the United States with a group of Manding musicians and cultural authorities. Following a successful tour, Mamadou decided to continue his work in the U.S. and, since then, he's made his home in and around New York City. He performs around North America. His recordings include a solo album “Behmanka,” nominated in 2005 for a Grammy Award in the world music category, and his most recent release “Heritage” which features works with his touring ensemble. For more, visit www.mamadoukora.com

Admission is free to the performance, which is part of the Stephenson Memorial Concert Series for 2006-07. The Stephenson Memorial Concert Fund was established by the family of the late John B. Stephenson, former president of Berea College, and honors Stephenson and his sister Nancy Anne Stephenson.