Zal Sissokho

Senegalese-Canadian musician

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)

References

^ ^a ^b Maryse Jobin, "Le griot de Montréal Zal Sissokho et son troisième album « La Palabre »". Radio Canada International, March 24, 2017.
^ Alexandre Vigneault, "Emballant flamenco africain". La Presse, February 25, 2020.
^ "Premier Gala de l'ADISQ : tour du chapeau pour Les Cowboys Fringants". Ici Radio-Canada, October 28, 2020.
^ Holly Gordon, "The Weeknd, JP Saxe, Jessie Reyez and Justin Bieber lead 2021 Juno Award nominations". CBC Music, March 9, 2021.
^ "Pharis & Jason Romero Head CFMA Winners List". FYI Music News, April 11, 2021.
^ ^a ^b "Festival International Nuits D’Afrique continues on". The Suburban, October 25, 2020.
^ Yves Bernard, "Zal Sissokho en spectacle ce soir au Lion d'Or - Le sage, le message et le partage". Le Devoir, March 7, 2012.
^ Ralph Boncy, "Zal Sissokho: Le partage". Voir, March 15, 2012.
^ Yves Bernard, "Famalé, Montréal, le Brésil et l’Afrique". Le Devoir, July 13, 2015.