Ablaye Cissoko and Cyrille Brotto
Ring in the new year with an unforgettable evening of harmony as renowned Senegalese kora master Ablaye Cissoko joins exceptional French diatonic accordionist Cyrille Brotto for a transcendent performance at the historic Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn.
Originally founded to serve immigrants fleeing the Irish famine, St. Joseph’s continues its legacy as a gathering place for communities from around the world who now call New York City home.
After the critically acclaimed release of Instant in 2022, celebrated Senegalese kora artist Ablaye Cissoko has once again partnered with French diatonic accordion virtuoso Cyrille Brotto to present their latest collaboration, Djiyo(meaning water). This collection features a harmonious blend of kora, vocals, and accordion, earning praise from Songlines magazine as “a gem from start to finish.”
Cissoko was born in Dakar, Senegal, into a family of griots—the traditional custodians of Mandé culture in West Africa, known locally as djelis. Cyrille Brotto, a French accordionist and composer, boasts over 20 years of experience performing and touring with various ensembles across Europe. Like the collaboration between Ballaké Sissoko and Derek Gripper at Corpus Christi Church in WMI’s previous season, this pairing beautifully illustrates the versatility of the kora as well as the boundless creativity of the two artists.
