The 21 Strings of Freedom: Senny Camara, a Female Kora Genius

Interview by Sandra Gasana
Genres and styles : Africa / Kora

Additional Information

She doesn’t come from a family of griots, but if she has to attribute her success to one person, it’s probably her grandmother. Indeed, Senny Camara went to live with her grandmother from a very young age, and it was her grandmother who introduced her to music, first to singing and then to the kora. Today, she travels the world with her 21-string instrument to spread human values. She recently received an award at the Aga Khan Music Awards in London in November 2025, and this continues to open doors for her. In addition to being a singer, guitarist, and kora virtuoso, she also self-produced her album Yéné, released in 2024. But it’s her meeting with Zal Sissokho that we’re about to witness (and yes, they’ve never met before) at Balattou on February 20th, during her very first visit to Canada. She’ll take the opportunity to do a short tour of the country. Our journalist Sandra Gasana joined her live from France to find out more about her and her background.




Latest 360 Content

FIJM 2026 | A Love Supreme played straightforward by Isaiah Collier’s Quartet

FIJM 2026 | A Love Supreme played straightforward by Isaiah Collier’s Quartet

FIJM 2026 | Day 10 | July 4 | Modibo Keita’s Picks

FIJM 2026 | Day 10 | July 4 | Modibo Keita’s Picks

FIJM 2026 | Aretha Tillotson Pays Tribute to Western Canada

FIJM 2026 | Aretha Tillotson Pays Tribute to Western Canada

FIJM 2026 | Ibrahim Maalouf All The Way… With Four Pistons!

FIJM 2026 | Ibrahim Maalouf All The Way… With Four Pistons!

FIJM 2026 | Rachel Therrien in Three Parts: It culminates on July 3 at the Festival

FIJM 2026 | Rachel Therrien in Three Parts: It culminates on July 3 at the Festival

FIJM 2026 | Day 9 | Modibo Keita’s Picks

FIJM 2026 | Day 9 | Modibo Keita’s Picks

FIJM 2026 | Interview with Kalia Vandever, a new voice for the trombone

FIJM 2026 | Interview with Kalia Vandever, a new voice for the trombone

FIJM 2026 | Day 8 | July 2 | Modibo Keita’s Picks

FIJM 2026 | Day 8 | July 2 | Modibo Keita’s Picks

FIJM 2026 | The Harp Can Count on Brandee Younger

FIJM 2026 | The Harp Can Count on Brandee Younger

FIJM 2026 | Joshua Redman: Notes and Thoughts from the Modern Jazz Giant

FIJM 2026 | Joshua Redman: Notes and Thoughts from the Modern Jazz Giant

FIJM 2026 | If you love alto sax, you gotta know Immanuel Wilkins

FIJM 2026 | If you love alto sax, you gotta know Immanuel Wilkins

Lanaudière Festival 2026 | Gala de la Terre and Saint Lawrence River protection with the Agora Orchestra on Opening Night

Lanaudière Festival 2026 | Gala de la Terre and Saint Lawrence River protection with the Agora Orchestra on Opening Night

FIJM 2026 | Day 7 | July 1 | Modibo Keita’s Picks

FIJM 2026 | Day 7 | July 1 | Modibo Keita’s Picks

FIJM 2026 | Trumpeter Rachel Therrien in Several Pieces, Part 2

FIJM 2026 | Trumpeter Rachel Therrien in Several Pieces, Part 2

FIJM 2026 | Keyon Harrold, Miles and him

FIJM 2026 | Keyon Harrold, Miles and him

FIJM 2026 | Rémi Cormier takes us up in his own Ascenseur pour l’échafaud

FIJM 2026 | Rémi Cormier takes us up in his own Ascenseur pour l’échafaud

FIJM 2026 | Marvin Caleb at the Heart of the Afro Revival in the Caribbean

FIJM 2026 | Marvin Caleb at the Heart of the Afro Revival in the Caribbean

FIJM 2026 | Trumpeter Rachel Therrien in Several Pieces, Part 1

FIJM 2026 | Trumpeter Rachel Therrien in Several Pieces, Part 1

FIJM 2026 | Adrian Quesada, a great musical innovator in Texas

FIJM 2026 | Adrian Quesada, a great musical innovator in Texas

FIJM 2026 | Louis Cole and David Binney, crucial players of an extended family in LA

FIJM 2026 | Louis Cole and David Binney, crucial players of an extended family in LA

FIJM 2026 | Day 4 | June 28 | Modibo Keita’s Picks

FIJM 2026 | Day 4 | June 28 | Modibo Keita’s Picks

FIJM 2026 | June 27 | Day 3 | Modibo Keita’s Picks

FIJM 2026 | June 27 | Day 3 | Modibo Keita’s Picks

Summer 2026 at Cammac: Stéphane Tétreault, Schubert, jazz, brunch, and hypnosis on the program

Summer 2026 at Cammac: Stéphane Tétreault, Schubert, jazz, brunch, and hypnosis on the program

FIJM 2026 | Solarium: Traditional Music Through the Lens of Jazz

FIJM 2026 | Solarium: Traditional Music Through the Lens of Jazz

Subscribe to our newsletter

Inscription
Infolettre

"*" indicates required fields

Type of Suscribers