About Korazon and Robin Van Creveld

I’ve always made things!

I love the process of taking the simple raw materials of wood, skin and gourd and transforming them into beautiful objects that sound amazing. Every instrument I make is unique and hand-made. I mainly use hand tools and techniques I learnt from traditional makers in West Africa.

I started my working and crafting life as a diamond polisher. Six years at the polishing bench taught me patience, precision and attention to detail. It also helped me to understand the logistics, process, and economics of making things.

I later retrained as a chef and these days my day job is Community Chef

While I have always loved listening to music, I had no experience of making or playing music until my late 20’s when I started playing drums on the beach in Brighton with a tribe of free-spirited folks who are still my closest friends.

I was introduced to the Kora by Les Sherwood

He’s the owner of Brighton’s legendary world music shop, Adaptatrap. Les is a fantastic maker and player of the kora and he encouraged me to start playing and making my own instruments.

To deepen my understanding of the instruments and music of West Africa, I’ve spent time in Senegal and the Gambia, learning and making kora independently and with my friend and teacher, Jali Pabo Jobarteh.

Most of the wood I use is recycled or reclaimed. I’ve seen first hand the extent of the deforestation taking place in West Africa, and do my utmost to use reclaimed or waste wood for my instruments. The skins and calabash I use are fair traded.

For the same reasons, I love to refurbish old drums. I’ve rescued many forlorn drums that have sat in corners, gathering dust and transformed them into beautiful instruments.