Prominent Malian Musician Alleges That TSA Destroyed His Instrument

One of Mali’s most prominent musicians, Ballaké Sissoko, has alleged that the Transportation Security Administration [TSA] destroyed his specially designed instrument during a trip from New York to Paris that began on Monday evening. On Thursday afternoon, the TSA said that its agents did not open the instrument case or create the damage. Sissoko is an internationally celebrated player of the kora — a delicate, harp-like West African instrument that usually has 21 strings. A Tiny Desk concert alumnus , he began his professional career at age 14, and has collaborated with the likes of Taj Mahal. The alleged incident occurred as Sissoko was leaving the U.S. after a cross-country tour with the trio 3MA ; he was booked on an overnight flight on Air France. Sissoko had checked his kora, which was packed in a hard case. Koras are large instruments that can stand more than 4 feet from the tip of the long, rounded neck to the base of its big gourd body. Once he arrived at his apartment in