Wowo Souakoli is a master of the Guinean guitar. His music is firmly based on the balafon, (Malinke xylophone) traditions that have been around since the thirteenth-century founding of the Mali empire. Souakoli’s use of a plectrum (pick) together with his guitar technique renders the traditional music of Guinea in a modern context.

Through a collaborative residency with New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park, Wowo Souakoli and Sidiki Conde collaborated with New Orleans’ musicians of the diverse genres of the city: jazz, blues, and zydeco. All of these genres have their origins in West Africa. The residency was an incredible opportunity for learning, appreciation, and creation.