A Sublime Evening Of Strings And Stories: Ballaké Sissoko & Derek Gripper Duo, And Maryna Krut Make Their UAE Debuts At The Arts Center At NYU Abu Dhabi
The Arts Center at NYU Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) presents an extraordinary cross-boundary evening of music on Friday, November 14 at 7:30pm in The Red Theater, featuring the duo of Ballaké Sissoko & Derek Gripper and a solo performance by Maryna Krut. Each artist makes their UAE debut in a concert that brings together Mandé traditions from Mali, classical guitar from South Africa, and Ukrainian songs on the bandura in a transcendent celebration of the world’s string instruments.
Ballaké Sissoko & Derek Gripper: African string dialogues
Malian virtuoso Ballaké Sissoko – the world’s preeminent kora player – has taken over the mantle of greatest living master of this 21-string West African harp. Known for his improvisation and collaborations across genres, he reveals the full expressive range of the kora, with nuances rarely heard on any instrument.
Derek Gripper, one of South Africa’s leading classical guitarists, has spent two decades transcribing the music of the kora for the guitar, creating a new African repertoire for the instrument and transforming the way classical audiences engage with African musical traditions.
The two musicians first met in 2022 in Paris for a single concert. Sharing no common spoken language, they nevertheless improvised an entire performance together – an encounter so powerful it led to a second show in London and the recording of a full-length album released in 2023. Their performances and recordings are entirely unspoken collaborations, built on deep listening and spontaneous creation.
As Sissoko and Gripper explain, “Our music begins where words end. We don’t speak the same language, but when we play, we understand each other completely. The kora and the guitar become our translators, revealing that listening is the truest form of communication.”
Maryna Krut: Songs of strength and hope
Maryna Krut is a Ukrainian singer and composer who fuses her country’s traditional music with jazz and contemporary sounds through her voice and the bandura, a Ukrainian string instrument that resembles a cross between a lute and a zither.
Since the conflict in Ukraine began, Krut has evolved from a modern interpreter of folk traditions into a witness to her nation’s experience. She shares messages of resilience, grief, and gratitude through her music.
“Ukrainian artists have a deep responsibility right now – to carry our culture wherever we go. I’ve performed on the front lines and around the world, and each concert becomes a small act of witness. Music is a universal language, and through the bandura, I can share both our pain and our strength. I’m honored to bring these songs to Abu Dhabi.”
The Executive Artistic Director of The Arts Center at NYU Abu Dhabi Bill Bragin, said:
“This evening captures what The Arts Center stands for – a space where diverse musical traditions meet, converse, and create new connections and resonances. Ballaké Sissoko and Derek Gripper’s collaboration is a marvel of cross-cultural intuition, and Maryna Krut’s artistry reminds us how music gives voice to identity, history, and resilience. Together, these three virtuosos offer audiences an unforgettable journey through the power of strings and stories.”
In addition to the concert, Derek Gripper will lead an African Guitar Workshop on Wednesday, November 12, offering students and locally based musicians a chance to explore the connections between West African traditions and classical technique. Combining the techniques of oral tradition learning with the pedagogy of Maria Montessori and FM Alexander, the workshop will be in the form of a musical dialogue. Participants are encouraged to bring their guitars and capos along to the workshop.
This workshop is suitable for participants 18 years and older, with experience in playing guitar and general musical knowledge.
Furthermore, Maryna Krut will lead a lecture demonstration on Thursday, November 13, introducing the role of the minstrel instrument, the bandura, a 64-string Ukrainian lute-zither, with its ethereal, harp-like sound, which she’s played since her childhood.
Listing information
Event: Ballaké Sissoko & Derek Gripper / Maryna Krut
Date: Friday, November 14, 7:30pm
Venue: The Red Theater, The Arts Center at NYU Abu Dhabi
Visit here for details
Workshop: African Guitar Workshop with Derek Gripper
Date: Wednesday, November 12, 6:30pm
Venue: The Arts Center at NYU Abu Dhabi
Visit here to request an invitation
Workshop: Lecture Demonstration: Bandura and Minstrels with Maryna Krut
Date:Thursday, November 13, 6:30pm
Venue: The Arts Center at NYU Abu Dhabi
Visit here to request an invitation
can we remove this part too? @cap13@nyu.edu
