Yaro

Born into a lineage of traditional musicians, Yaro is a Malian artist whose roots run deep in the soul of West African heritage. Raised in a family where music was lived, not learned, he began his journey at an early age, sitting beside his father and grandfather as they played the ngoni and sang ancestral melodies. They crafted his first small kora by hand — his doorway into music. At 12, he transitioned to a full-sized kora and embraced his true path. Self-taught in the Malian griot tradition, Yaro never attended music school — his craft grew naturally in a musical family. He follows no idols; he plays from instinct, guided by emotion and spirit. He has collaborated with major Malian icons including Aboubacar Traoré (Kar Kar), Adama Yalomba, and Mangala Camara, and performed alongside Oumou Sangaré and Habib Koité, touring internationally across Europe, Asia, and West Africa. Despite his talent, Yaro’s journey has seen challenges, especially betrayal from those who pretended to support him while exploiting his name and lack of formal schooling. Trust has been his hardest battle. Yet his vision remains strong: to find true partners, share his music globally, and leave a lasting legacy in African culture. A master craftsman, he also builds koras, kamale ngonis, and doso ngonis, supporting his family through both performance and instrument making. He founded his group, Bengadi, in 2013. Today, he continues to compose, perform, and carry the spirit of Mali forward.