Ballaké Sissoko (born 1968 in Bamako, Mali) is a kora player from the griot tradition and one of the most internationally recognized masters of the 21-string West African harp. The son of renowned jeli Djelimady Sissoko, he joined the Ensemble Instrumental National du Mali at just 13 after his father's death, and went on to build a career defined by bold cross-cultural partnerships - with cellist Vincent Ségal, Toumani Diabaté, Ludovico Einaudi, and many others.
The quartet of Sissoko, Vincent Ségal, Émile Parisien and Vincent Peirani released 'Sou Kora' on No Format, a follow-up to their 2023 album 'Les Égarés'.
Sissoko released 'Our Calling', a duo album with British singer-songwriter Piers Faccini, on the Nø Førmat! label.
Sissoko and South African guitarist Derek Gripper released their self-titled duo album on Matsuli Music, recorded in just three hours at Platoon Studios in London.
The quartet album 'Les Égarés' (with Vincent Ségal, Émile Parisien and Vincent Peirani) was released on No Format and earned a Victoire du Jazz award.
Sissoko premiered a Concerto for Kora composed by Lebanese composer Zad Moultaka at the Radio France concert hall in Paris.
