How US Customs Officers Damaged a Revered West African Artist’s Custom-built Kora

Transportation Security Administration (TSA) isn’t known for making happy travelers, but a recent incident involving a famous Malian musician has many up in arms. Learn how a precious and delicate instrument came to an untimely end thanks to some less than careful handling by TSA. On the morning of Feb. 4, the acclaimed Malian musician Ballaké Sissoko arrived in Paris after a two-week tour in the U.S. to find his custom-built kora broken into several pieces in its hard case, with a notice of baggage inspection from the TSA.

SOURCE: QUARTZ AFRICA

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