Journey and inspirations

• A cabinetmaker by trade, Jérôme De Cuyper first developed a passion for West African percussion instruments. This fascination eventually led him to discover the kora, whose sound left a profound impression on him. Drawn ever closer to these traditions while searching for his own path, he began to shape a distinctive musical identity.

  Listening to masters Toumani Diabaté and Mamadou Diabaté fueled his desire to play, while his studies of music theory, harmonization, and improvisation enriched his practice.
  From this encounter a singular career emerged—marked by constant curiosity and the drive to invent new sonic horizons.

Instrument maker

• Guided by a dream and a deep passion, Jérôme designs and builds his own instruments, blending musical sensitivity with artisanal expertise. His creations—from the pedal-driven chromatic kora (Jazzy-Kora) to the hybrid balafon with modular resonances—reflect a unique search for sound.

  Each invention is born from creative impulse and vision, giving life to instruments where mind, hands, and material engage in dialogue to reveal new musical colors.

Artistic and musical creations

• From solo performances to African percussion concerts, from a duo with a singer to an instrumental trio, Jérôme De Cuyper has explored many stage experiences.
  With his show Musique en Noir & Blanc, he shines a spotlight on his own instrumental creations—the 32-string kora and the chromatic balafon—in a dialogue between African and Western cultures, enhanced by a music box that adds a poetic and unexpected touch.

  His sound explorations continue today through the chromatic kora, where the Jazzy-Kora takes center stage and opens new musical horizons.

A musical vision

• His instruments, shaped by both hand and mind, embody his philosophy: to build bridges between cultures and to open doors to new soundscapes.
  In his universe, listening becomes dialogue—much like in the griot tradition, where music carries both memory and creation.

Biography and musical universe of Jérôme De Cuyper

From West African percussion to the kora

When cabinetmaking meets music

Between stage, research and collaborations

Between memory and invention