Muhamadou Salieu Suso was born into a West African Gambian family of Mandinka griots, musicians, and storytellers extending back nearly 1,000 years. Suso continues the tradition of these keepers of history. He began training on the 21-string kora with his father, the renowned Alhaji Musa Makang, at eight years old and began a career at age 15. Since then, he has performed throughout Africa and Europe, playing and promoting Gambian music and the kora, before settling in the United States. He is leader of the Jaliya Kafo music ensemble, as well as a leader in the nation’s rapidly growing African music scene.