Balla Tounkara

Balla Tounkara is a kora player and singer from Mali.{{Cite journal |url=http://worldmusic.nationalgeographic.com/worldmusic/view/page.basic/artist/content.artist/balla_tounkara_5486 |title=Balla Tounkara|journal=National Geographic |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090105050500/http://worldmusic.nationalgeographic.com/worldmusic/view/page.basic/artist/content.artist/balla_tounkara_5486 |archive-date=5 January 2009|access-date=19 March 2022 |url-status=dead}}

He was born in Mali into a family of griots, who traditionally played music to the kings of the Malian Empire in their royal court. He started to learn the kora as a child.{{Cite web |url=http://mp3.mondomix.com/ballatounkara |title=Balla Tounkara|website=Mondomix Music |access-date=19 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714112117/http://mp3.mondomix.com/ballatounkara |archive-date=14 July 2011 |url-status=dead}}

Tounkara has released many albums and plays both solo and with a group called Groupe Spirite.{{cite web|url=http://www.balla-tounkara.com/|title=Balla Tounkara and Groupe Spirit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070520101740/http://www.balla-tounkara.com/|archivedate=20 May 2007|accessdate=19 March 2022}} He moved to the United States in 1996Balla Tounkara, Kalefaba: The Peacemaker - Traditional Songs For The Kora. Balla Tounkara Music, 2002. UPC : 711517233521. Liner notes. and now lives in Boston.{{cite web |url=http://www.afropop.org/multi/feature/ID/10 |title=Afropop Worldwide: Balla Tounkara, The Griot of Boston |website=www.afropop.org |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010406121026/http://afropop.org/multi/feature/ID/10 |archive-date=2001-04-06}}