The sons of Sidiki Diabate, a kora-player known throughout West Africa, and Jelimadi Sissoko, his regular accompanist, Toumani and Ballake grew up in Bamako, Mali playing together.

Having already established themselves separately as players of international note, with Toumani considered by many to be the finest kora-player in the world, they recorded "New Ancient Strings" together in Bamako in 1997. The album is named after the first album of instrumental kora music, "Ancient Strings", recorded by their fathers 27 years earlier.