kora is a musical instrument African string. It is a harp-lute Mandingo (Senegal, Mali, Gambia, Guinea Sierra Leone ...). According to legend, the first kora was the personal instrument of a female genius who lived in Caves Kansala Gambia. Impressed and moved by the music of the instrument, a great war leader, Tiramakhan Traore, decided to deprive women-engineering. Aided by his hunting companions, Waly Kelendjan and Djelimaly Oulé Diabaté, he recovered the instrument, which fell to Djelimaly, the griot of the group. Djelimaly passed it his son Kamba. And so it passed from father to son until Tilimaghan Diabaté who introduced him to Mali. Do not confuse the kora with other stringed instruments such as the ngoni quite similar or Bolon. The first description of the kora, called Konting (confused with ekonting lute) by explorers last centuries, evoked a 10-string instrument