To buy Kora instrument in artisan’s shop

The Kora, magical harp from West Africa linked to the Mandinka tradition… if you are looking for a Kora you are welcome. I am Kora maker and musician specialized in African Kora. I build handcrafted Koras using traditional materials and techniques.

To build each Kora dedicating its time, this is my philosophy, respecting its tempos, with attention and care, skipping from massive serial productions. Here each Kora acquires its own soul, its voice, always seeking for being in tune with the original traditional sound.

Contact me to know if there are available Koras or to order a new one to built (the most common) or if you have questions after browsing in the website.

Kora models

General Informations

Kora SUNDIATA

Standard
650 EUR

Features, options and contact

Skin : Several options (ask for info).
Pegs : Classical guitar or Electric guitar.
Sound : Acoustic.
Weight : 2,8 Kg.
Measures : 42,5 x 113 x 19,5* cm. (x,y,z) *bridge off.

To buy or query use contact email, thank you…

Contact email

Kora MINKAROO

ErgoGrip
700 EUR

Features, options and contact

Skin : Several options (ask for info).
Pegs : Electric guitar or Classical Guitar.
Sound : Acoustic.
Weight : 2,9 Kg.
Measures : 41,0 x 115,0 x 23,0* cm. (x,y,z) *bridge off.

To buy or query use contact email, thank you…

Contact email

Kora DOUGA / Kora BANJUL

Standard
875 EUR (Douga) / 700 EUR (Banjul)

Features, options and contact

Skin : Several options (ask for info).
Pegs : Electric guitar or Classical guitar.
Sound : Electro-acoustic (Douga) / Acoustic (Banjul).
Weight : 4,1 Kg.
Measures : 48 x 121,5 x 24* cm. (x,y,z) *bridge off.

To buy or query use contact email, thank you…

Contact email

To buy chromatic Kora musical instrument

Kora NZIENGUI PAPÉ

Semitone Levers “chromatic Kora”
1.300 EUR / with decoration 1.450 EUR

Features, options and contact

Skin : Several options (ask for info).
Pegs : Electric guitar.
Sound : Acoustic (query for electroacoustic version).
Weight : 5,5 Kg.
Measures : 49,5 x 126,5 x 25,0* cm. (x,y,z) *bridge off.

To buy or query use contact email, thank you…

Contact email

Kora BOLOBA

Standard
700 EUR

Features, options and contact

Skin : Several options (ask for info).
Pegs : Electric guitar or Classical guitar.
Sound : Acoustic.
Weight : 3,0 Kg.
Measures : 41,0 x 117,5 x 21,0* cm. (x,y,z) *bridge off.

To buy or query use contact email, thank you…

Contact email

Kora MBEMBA DIABATE

Standard **Special Edition**
850 EUR

Features, options and contact

Skin : Several options (ask for info).
Pegs : Electric guitar or Classical Guitar.
Sound : Acoustic.
Weight : 3,4 Kg.
Measures : 49,5 x 122,0 x 24,0* cm. (x,y,z) *bridge off.

To buy or query use contact email, thank you…

Contact email

Kora TAMLA

Standard
700 EUR

Features, options and contact

Skin : Several options (ask for info).
Pegs : Electric guitar or Classical Guitar.
Sound : Acoustic.
Weight : 3,7 Kg.
Measures : 41,0 x 115,0 x 23,0* cm. (x,y,z) *bridge off.

To buy or query use contact email, thank you…

Contact email

Kora for easy transport during travel transfers

Kora LITTLE KAIRA

Light Travel
650 EUR

Features, options and contact

Skin : Several options (ask for info).
Pegs : Classical guitar.
Sound : Acoustic.
Weight : 2,5 Kg.
Measures : 36,5 x 111,5 x 20,0* cm. (x,y,z) *bridge off.

To buy or query use contact email, thank you…

Contact email

Online sale of professional quality Koras

Kora DJINJINS

Standard
750 EUR / with decoration +150 EUR

Features, options and contact

Skin : Several options (ask for info).
Pegs : Electric guitar.
Sound : Acoustic.
Weight : 4,1 Kg.
Measures : 44,5 x 121 x 23,0* cm. (x,y,z) *bridge off.

To buy or query use contact email, thank you…

Contact email

Kora MANSA

Full Bass octave (24 strings)
875 EUR

Features, options and contact

Skin : Several options (ask for info).
Pegs : Electric guitar.
Sound : Acoustic.
Weight : 4,0 Kg.
Measures : 49,5 x 132 x 23,0* cm. (x,y,z) *bridge off.

To buy or query use contact email, thank you…

Contact email

Kora ALIFA YAYA

Skin Free
700 EUR

Features, options and contact

Skin : Several options (ask for info).
Pegs : Classical guitar or Electric guitar.
Sound : Acoustic.
Weight : 3,0 Kg.
Measures : 38,0 x 117 x 21,0* cm. (x,y,z) *bridge off.

To buy or query use contact email, thank you…

Contact email

Kora LALOKEBA DRAME / Kora KUNOO

Standard
900 EUR / witohut decoration -150 EUR

Features, options and options

Skin : Several options (ask for info).
Pegs : Electric guitar.
Sound : Acoustic.
Weight : 4,2 Kg.
Measures : 44,5 x 120 x 24,5* cm. (x,y,z) *bridge off.

To buy or query use contact email, thank you…

Contact email

Kora with calabash, nylon strings, guitar pegs, wooden neck

Kora JALIYA

Standard Ultra White finish
800 EUR

Features, options and contact

Skin : Several options (ask for info).
Pegs : Electric guitar or Classical guitar.
Sound : Acoustic.
Weight : 3,7 Kg.
Measures : 40,7 x 117 x 19,5* cm. (x,y,z) *bridge off.

To buy or query use contact email, thank you…

Contact email

Thank you for your feedback…

Instrument
The sound of my Kora and the ones you are making is fucking awesome!
They are beautiful, and less heavy weight.

After sales support
Always perfect!

Jali Sam Sussoh (Gambia)

Instrument
I am very happy with the sound of the instrument.

After sales support
Very kind, I know that I can count on the maker for any question or observation.

Antonio Z. (Spain)

Instrument
Aesthetics and sound I like them a lot.

After sales support
Rating: 10/10

Client hidden

Instrument
The sound is good! (…) I love the feedback of it. There’s something special about the way it reverberates.

After sales support
I did not ask for support yet.

Client hidden (USA)

KORA manding harps

Koras maker (West African Harps) · Contact : kora.manding.harps@gmail.com

Standard

Line of Koras that follows the parameters of traditional Mandingka Koras: proportions, sizes, adjustments... but in this case they use mechanical tuning pegs instead of traditional leather rings for their tuning making easier and faster the tuning process of the instrument being it more practical (modernizing it).

Light Tavel

Line of Koras designed to move with comfort the instrument from one place to another. An optimized size and weight compared to the Koras Standard, but without losing the original tone (characteristic sound) of the traditional instrument.

Designing too compact and modified Travel Koras changes the instrument's proportions, balances, timbre and feedback… this is to be avoided here.

This line uses less dense woods, the lightest model of pegs in the market (classical guitar style) and minimal dimensions within the desirable parameters.

Semitone Levers

This line of Koras, popularized in a imprecise way as 'Chromatic' Koras has a system of levers installed on its neck that, when activated, press each string altering the length of them, as a result they change the desired string a semitone (halftone).

It is interesting for musicians who want to frequently change the pitch (repertoire) quickly, smoothly, easily and, importantly, in a stable way... specially suitable for playing live / concert.

Koras with Semitones System by Levers allow to alternate between traditional Mandingka styles typical of the Kora within other styles that are further away from the common repertoire.

The 'Chromatic' Koras are heavier than the Standard ones because they load more metal (levers and pins) installed on the neck and require special attention not to damage their mechanism (hits).

Skin Free

Koras specially designed for those who do NOT want to enjoy an instrument made with animal skin, this is why they are sometimes referred as 'Vegan' too. It is a Harp built 100% of wood.

The sound of the bass notes is not as warm as the skin ones but they still have 100% Kora sound. The middle and high octaves sound quite similar to the rest of Koras.

By switching leather for wood the instrument's Resonance Board is more stable against changes of humidity and temperature, which means that it becomes out of tune less easily.

ErgoGrip

My experience building and testing Koras with Halftones System has motivated me to offer this Koras ErgoGrip line.

In these Koras the angle of the two rows of strings (right/left) is noticeably more parallel, not as convergent (inclined) towards the central axis of the neck and this improves the overall ergonomics. The hand works more stable and relaxed because this angle allows a greater grip, both to press the strings and to lean the hand on the instrument's wood holders while executing hand/fingers movements.
So ultimately the hands work in a more ergonomically ideal angle than in the Standard or Traditional Koras.

I recommend them for ALL hands but specially for small hands or "A" type like where the index finger is shorter relative to the group (3 most common hand types appear in the graph).

How does it work to buy a Kora?

To buy a Kora you have to contact me by electronic mail (Contact email).

• I will guide you and give you personalized support during the purchase.
• I will solve all your questions and give you advice if you need it.

Note: you can also contact just to ask and that does not commit you to anything.

Aside each Kora there is the legend "Features, options and contact". Inside if you press the button "Contact email" your email manager will automatically open to start sending a message to my store. If it doesn't work, you can always do it manually, by writing to me at:

kora.manding.harps@gmail.com
My name is Carlos.

At any time you can contact me by phone (+34 692 670 822). Note: Regardless of whether you call by phone or not, the purchase procedure will always continue by email.

In this FAQs article (frequently asked questions) you will find more extensive information about the purchase process, take a look at it and if you have more questions do not hesitate to contact me.

And when you buy your Kora also...

You will have indefinite personalized after-sales support. You will be able to contact me by e-mail, by videoconference and/or by phone if you have problems or questions about your new Kora... and help on related issues.

You will receive by email a PDF 'Getting Started Guide' with information regarding your new instrument:

• Manual with instructions.
• Various help through videos and diagrams on how to change strings, tune correctly, take care of your instrument... and more.
• Important recommendations and warnings, etc.

Thus, you will receive valuable information that many of us would have liked to have when we acquired our Kora ; )

To hear examples of built Koras

Head over to Sound Demos to get a general idea of the acoustic quality of the Koras I build.

Note: For various reasons it is impossible for me to have recordings of all the Koras that I make, so 'Sound Demos' is basically to get an idea of the general quality.

More informations

I offer payment facilities for the purchase of the Kora, in case you need it.

Any acoustic Kora can be electrified (electroacoustic Kora) to connect to an amplifier and/or computer; there are several systems that I can install for you.

You will find answers to many more questions you have (about shipping costs, payment process... etc) and other questions that may not occur to you right now, in this article FAQs (frequently asked questions). Take a look and if you have any further questions feel free to contact me.

Remember (!) that in the list of Koras in this e-Shop the images of Koras are buttons and that by pressing them you can see more photos of each Kora and in a larger size.