-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen Sean Gaskell, of Asheville, North Carolina, plays the kora for an audience gathered Tuesday afternoon at the Blanden Memorial Art Museum. The West African instrument has 22 strings and sounds very much like a harp. Gaskell studied with several well-known kora players in Africa during two trips there in 2008 and 2012. The instrument is original to the Mandinka people.

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen Sean Gaskell's fingers become a blur of motion as he plays his kora Tuesday afternoon during a show at the Blanden Memorial Art Museum.

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen Sean Gaskell, of Asheville, North Carolina, plays the kora for an audience gathered Tuesday afternoon at the Blanden Memorial Art Museum.