Budapest-born, Montreal-based Sophie Lukacs is a singer, composer and kora player whose music brings together West African Manding traditions, Hungarian folk music and contemporary songwriting.

 

Originally trained as a classical violinist, Sophie first encountered the music of the kora while traveling through Burkina Faso, a profound experience that would change the course of her musical journey and her life. She went on to spend seven years in Mali, immersing herself in the instrument's rich traditions, studying with legendary kora master Toumani Diabaté and collaborating with acclaimed Malian musician Habib Koité.

 

Her debut album, Bamako (2023), won Global Roots Album of the Year at the Canadian Folk Music Awards and earned praise from Songlines as a “splendid debut.”

 

Singing in all four languages she speaks—English, French, Hungarian and Bambara—Sophie has performed across North America, Europe and West Africa, with recent highlights including the Saint-Louis Jazz Festival in Senegal, the Canadian Cultural Centre in Paris and The Tung Auditorium in Liverpool. Her sophomore album is set for release in spring 2027.