Baba Sora Video Playlist

<p>Our program, <em>The Enigma of Baba Sora</em>, may raise more questions for some than it answers. If so, you may join the ranks of those still searching for the deeper story of this mysterious man. On the legal front, one place to start is with Jim DeFede’s 1998 <em>Miami New Times</em> article “<a href="https://www.miaminewtimes.com/news/babas-big-bucks-6359873">Baba’s Big Bucks</a>.” Banning Eyre’s book <em><a href="http://www.banningeyre.com/in-griot-time">In Griot Time</a></em> contains some good background, including the author’s complete interview with Baba Sora, and the answer to the question: “Did Baba ever give him money?” (Sorry. You'll have to read the book.) Banning Eyre's conversation with musicologist Lucy Duràn, published with this playlist, is fascinating. There are a number of articles and obituaries online, although they don’t add a lot of substance to these sources. </p> <p>Here we offer a few videos that take you a little deeper into the experience, beginning with a grand <em>sumu</em> (griot gathering) held in Baba Sora’s hometown of Dabia in November 1997, upon his return from house arrest in Miami.</p> <p><br></p> <figure><iframe loading="lazy" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/jzyf_DuF2Ls" allowfullscreen="" width="500" height="281" frameborder="0"></iframe></figure> <p><br></p> <p>Amy Koita’s song “Baba Sora.”<br></p> <figure><iframe loading="lazy" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/4yeQVbMe9ho" allowfullscreen="" width="500" height="281" frameborder="0"></iframe></figure> <p><br></p> <p>Here’s a video report on the Dubai adventure from Weird World.<br></p> <figure><iframe loading="lazy" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/Hk4U50MWQOs" allowfullscreen="" width="500" height="281" frameborder="0"></iframe></figure> <p><br><br>Here’s a deeper dive from the BBC Arabic service, mostly in Arabic, but with some English and French interviews with important players, including Baba Sora. <br></p> <figure><iframe loading="lazy" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/q7KbHmBd2dg" allowfullscreen="" width="500" height="281" frameborder="0"></iframe></figure> <p><br></p> <p>And finally, Balla Tounkara serenades Baba Sora in 2018.<br></p> <figure><iframe loading="lazy" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/BEK1Ml9QrQI" allowfullscreen="" width="500" height="281" frameborder="0"></iframe></figure> <p><br></p>