The first Arts Alive event for the year carries with it the promise of something out of the ordinary - Ba Cissoko, a kora band from Guinea, West Africa, brings this unique and rarely heard sound to Joburg.

Guinea's Ba Cissoko kicks off the City's annual Arts Alive programme

BA CISSOKO takes its name from lead vocalist and key kora player, Ba Cissoko, who is descended from a long line of griot and kora performers from Guinea, West Africa.

The sound of the kora can be described as lying somewhere between harp and flamenco music. And Ba Cissoko's rendition of the kora "is a very modern African sound", explains Peggy Boucon, the visual and performing arts officer at the French Institute, which co-hosts the event with Arts Alive.

Originating in Guinea, Mali, Senegal and Gambia, the kora is a musical instrument made from a large calabash. Kora players are traditionally from griot families and the title carries with it prestige and honour. Griots are praise singers, poets and travelling musicians who keep alive the stories and myths of their communities through music.

Griot artists more familiar to Johannesburg audiences are Mory Kanté and Salif Keita.

Cissoko heads the four-member group, which includes cousins Kourou Kouyaté, the elder, on bass and bolon; and Sékou Kouyaté, also on kora, who has earned himself the nickname "Jimi Hendrix Africain" because his vibrant renditions on the kora resemble Hendrix's famous guitar riffs.

The fourth member is percussionist Bah Konkouré, who recreates old village sounds with all manner of drums, from the djembe to the conga.

Ba Cissoko's sound is an interesting mix of culture and music, drawing on ancient social gatherings in remote African villages and modern world music intonations. This synthesis can be heard on the band's latest album, Electric Griot Land.

Cissoko has created his own style of music by mixing traditional with modern, so taking the oral tradition of the griot to a level that resonates with multi-ethnic audiences. The lyrical content of his compositions deal with contemporary issues, yet the style and tenor of the sounds are inspired and informed by traditional rhythms.

He sees no contradiction in this duality either. "To modernise the Mandingo tradition is to better spread it, it works to transgress boundaries and honour it," he explains.

The collaborations on the album are a testament to this exploration of diverse genres and musical traditions – Les Nubians, Ivorian Tiken Jah Fakoly and Malian Amadou Bagayoko all feature on Electric Griot Land.

Joburg is renowned for its eclectic mix of cultures and for strong audience support of different music genres. It has previously hosted celebrated African artists such as Youssou N'Dour, Ismail Lo and Salif Keita, all of whom fall into the world music category.

"Joburg audiences are known for being extremely discerning about their live entertainment, and in inviting Ba Cissoko to play here, we wanted to showcase an artist who they might not necessarily be exposed to, but as lovers of excellent music, they would definitely appreciate," Boucon says.

The French Institute, the cultural arm of the French embassy, has been actively involved in encouraging and introducing francophone culture to South African audiences.

Arts Alive is an annual programme of cultural events hosted by the City of Johannesburg and sponsored by the City's Department of Arts, Culture and Heritage Services. It kicks off on 31 August and runs through September.

Ba Cissoko plays at Bassline in Newtown on Saturday, 7 April. The evening's entertainment starts at 9pm, with two South African groups, Uju and the Mahotella Queens. Ba Cissoko takes the stage last. The cover charge is R60 and bookings can be made at Computicket on 011 340 8000, through the Computicket website.

Further collaboration between the French Institute and Arts Alive will take place on Africa Day, 25 May, with a line-up of French and South African artists.