Jali Morro Susu, a native of Kuwonku village in Sandu, Upper River Region (URR) and a renowned Kora music player, had published a book entitled ‘West African History: The Empire of Manding, Kabu, Kings and their territories’.

The book covered several topics in detail, such as history of West African sub-region dated centuries ago. It will be on the 7th of March 2009 at Fajara Hotel, Bakau. The book gives extensive narration on the origin, organization, social, economic and political structures of the different ethnic groups within West African sub-region, especially the two defunct powerful empires called Manding and Kabu.

It gives a historic narration on the  lives and operations of the kings in these and other related empires in west and other parts of Africa and beyond as well as the spread of Islamic religion from these empires to other parts of Africa.

The author of the book, Jali Morro Susu, did not hesitate to give a detailed history on the origin of Kora, the 21 string traditional musical instrument. “I am a trained professional griot and Kora player. I am from a griot family, served as oral historian at Radio Gambia and at one point represented the Gambia in an international Kora festival held in Dakar, Senegal. I do entertain tourists in hotels, deliver lectures to students in schools on Kora music,” said Jali Morro Susu in a recent chat with the Arts and Culture ahead of preparations to launch the history book.

According to him, the aim is among other things to review the fast-fading traditional cultural norms and values, to serve as a guide to both students and those with keen interest in the history of West Africa and beyond. Among other things he added, griots preach and say what was handed down to them by their ancestors and as well as what they see and heard for themselves. “Griots are most often the custodians of traditions and culture in any given society. They serve as the source of information in the community”, he explained.