Bil Aka Kora
Encyclopedia
Bilgho Akaramata Kora, also known as Bil Aka Kora (born April 25, 1971, Pô
, Burkina Faso
) is a musician. He was one of the 17 children of Mahama and Teoura Bilgho. He is married to Astride, and is the father of Korane Prisca. Bil Aka Kora's sound draws upon traditional music from the language, instruments, rhythm and themes of the south of Burkina Faso.
, Mahamoudou Ouedraogo, initiated "Les Grands Prix Nationaux de la Musique" (National Grand Prizes of Music), which is a national competition for Burkinabé musicians. Winning the first place at this competition with another musician, Kanzai, encouraged Bil Aka Kora to keep developing his musical talent.
He was the musical director of several film documentaries and movies soundtracks during the 18th edition of FESPACO. In 2004, he played the role of the musician in the movie Sofia from director Aboubacar Diallo, and composed the movie soundtrack.
Kora owns a production studio called Djongo Diffusion. Bil Aka Kora declares that his purpose with the studio is to help young people who want to become musicians, even if they are not performing Djongo music.
, reggae
, and blues
. Djongo was originally the traditional music of the Gourounsi or Kassena
(ethnic groups in the south of Burkina Faso), produced with a lot percussion instruments such as bendre, lunga
, djembe
, drums
and flutes. Djongo is traditionally a dance of rivalry, vitality, strength and energy that Kassena men dance to impress and seduce girls or before going to war. Kora modernized Djongo and made it into a musical style appreciated throughout Burkina Faso, even though the lyrics are in Kassena, a language spoken by only 1% of the population.
, France
, and Canada
as well as many African countries like Togo
and Benin
. Travelling has enabled him to meet and exchange with others artists, like the Austrian musician Humber Von Goisen and the Canadian mixer Gerald La Roche.
Kora says he owes his musical success to the support of his wife Astride, and his group, the Djongo System.
His first album, Douatou ("Rain Maker") (1999), talks about the rain, a metaphor for the political issues of Burkina Faso. In his song "Wematou" ("God is My Father") he explains how society criticizes single moms and their children, but takes no fault with single dads and their children.
His second album, Ambolou ("What is Worthy for Me" ) (2001), has been called an album of maturity.
His most recent album is Dibayagui (2004). In this album, the song "Dibayagui" is the for Kassena warriors.
and internationally. He hopes to win the KORA
, a musical festival in South Africa
. The KORA rewards talented African and African Diaspora musicians.
Pô
-External links: Burkina Faso Ministry of Culture, Arts and Tourism's web site for this area...
, Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso – also known by its short-form name Burkina – is a landlocked country in west Africa. It is surrounded by six countries: Mali to the north, Niger to the east, Benin to the southeast, Togo and Ghana to the south, and Côte d'Ivoire to the southwest.Its size is with an estimated...
) is a musician. He was one of the 17 children of Mahama and Teoura Bilgho. He is married to Astride, and is the father of Korane Prisca. Bil Aka Kora's sound draws upon traditional music from the language, instruments, rhythm and themes of the south of Burkina Faso.
Early life
While in high school, Kora joined a band called "les Missiles" where learned to play the guitar under the instruction of a Ghanaian called Salah Ben. Bil Aka Kora went to university to study math and physics, but was forced to drop out after his second year because he had neither the funds nor a scholarship to continue his studies. He then turned to music to earn a living. He began playing full time in bars and nightclubs. In 1997, the Cultural Minister of Burkina FasoBurkina Faso
Burkina Faso – also known by its short-form name Burkina – is a landlocked country in west Africa. It is surrounded by six countries: Mali to the north, Niger to the east, Benin to the southeast, Togo and Ghana to the south, and Côte d'Ivoire to the southwest.Its size is with an estimated...
, Mahamoudou Ouedraogo, initiated "Les Grands Prix Nationaux de la Musique" (National Grand Prizes of Music), which is a national competition for Burkinabé musicians. Winning the first place at this competition with another musician, Kanzai, encouraged Bil Aka Kora to keep developing his musical talent.
Career
Bil Aka Kora was seen playing live on the TV shows La Nuit du Communicateur (Communicator's Night) and Prix Galian (Galian Prize). He recorded his first album, Douatou, in December 1998.He was the musical director of several film documentaries and movies soundtracks during the 18th edition of FESPACO. In 2004, he played the role of the musician in the movie Sofia from director Aboubacar Diallo, and composed the movie soundtrack.
Kora owns a production studio called Djongo Diffusion. Bil Aka Kora declares that his purpose with the studio is to help young people who want to become musicians, even if they are not performing Djongo music.
Special musical style
Bil Aka Kora's version of Djongo is a fusion of Kassena and modern musical styles such as jazzJazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
, reggae
Reggae
Reggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.Reggae is based...
, and blues
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
. Djongo was originally the traditional music of the Gourounsi or Kassena
Kassena
The Kassena people are an ethnic group of northern Ghana, part of the greater Gurunsi group. Their number is estimated to be about 30.000.-History:...
(ethnic groups in the south of Burkina Faso), produced with a lot percussion instruments such as bendre, lunga
Lunga
There are a number of places called Lunga, namely:Two communes in the Republic of Moldova:* Lunga, a commune in Floreşti district* Lunga, a commune in Transnistria, near DubăsariTwo villages and two rivers in Romania:...
, djembe
Djembe
A djembe also known as jembe, jenbe, djbobimbe, jymbe, yembe, or jimbay, or sanbanyi in Susu; is a skin-covered drum meant played with bare hands....
, drums
Drum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
and flutes. Djongo is traditionally a dance of rivalry, vitality, strength and energy that Kassena men dance to impress and seduce girls or before going to war. Kora modernized Djongo and made it into a musical style appreciated throughout Burkina Faso, even though the lyrics are in Kassena, a language spoken by only 1% of the population.
Global tours
Bil Aka Kora has traveled to BelgiumBelgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, and Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
as well as many African countries like Togo
Togo
Togo, officially the Togolese Republic , is a country in West Africa bordered by Ghana to the west, Benin to the east and Burkina Faso to the north. It extends south to the Gulf of Guinea, on which the capital Lomé is located. Togo covers an area of approximately with a population of approximately...
and Benin
Benin
Benin , officially the Republic of Benin, is a country in West Africa. It borders Togo to the west, Nigeria to the east and Burkina Faso and Niger to the north. Its small southern coastline on the Bight of Benin is where a majority of the population is located...
. Travelling has enabled him to meet and exchange with others artists, like the Austrian musician Humber Von Goisen and the Canadian mixer Gerald La Roche.
Nominations and achievements
- He has won the Gold Kunde twice in 2000 and 2005.
- His video Dibayagui was selected the most beautiful in 2005 by the Burkinabe for the TV show, Clip d'or.
Kora says he owes his musical success to the support of his wife Astride, and his group, the Djongo System.
Discography
Bil Aka Kora recorded three albums. Most of his music has themes of social issues.His first album, Douatou ("Rain Maker") (1999), talks about the rain, a metaphor for the political issues of Burkina Faso. In his song "Wematou" ("God is My Father") he explains how society criticizes single moms and their children, but takes no fault with single dads and their children.
His second album, Ambolou ("What is Worthy for Me" ) (2001), has been called an album of maturity.
His most recent album is Dibayagui (2004). In this album, the song "Dibayagui" is the for Kassena warriors.
Future plans
Kora hopes to become more famous both in AfricaAfrica
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
and internationally. He hopes to win the KORA
Kora
Kora may refer to:* Kora , a stringed musical instrument of West African origin* Kora , a New Zealand reggae band** Kora , Kora album released in 2007* Kora , a type of pilgrimage in the Buddhist tradition...
, a musical festival in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. The KORA rewards talented African and African Diaspora musicians.