Sona Jobarteh

            

Sona Jobarteh: A Great New Kora Voice

Posted December 17, 2011 by Tom Schnabel

I recently discovered this young London-based Gambian musician Sona Jobarteh. She comes from a long line of master musicians and griots from the Gambia in West Africa. The kora, by the way, is a traditional 21 string harp-lute, a classical African instrument used for millenia in Mali, Guinea, Senegal and other West African countries. It seems to fit beautifully in so many different musical configurations: Volker Goetz, a German trumpet player, did a cd with Ablaye Sissoko; Vincent Segal, a French cellist did one, so did Ludovico Einaudi, the Italian pianist.  

Traditionally the kora, like the trombone, contrabass, or trumpet in jazz, has been played almost exclusively by men. Like Esperanza Spalding, the Best New Artist Grammy winner (upright bass), Sona Jobarteh has departed from tradition. Her album Fasiya has everything in it that makes me love African music: virtuosic playing, swaying, sensual rhythms, a soft and sensuous voice. 
Source: Rhythm Planet

Watch and listen the videos: Africa Festival, Jarabi, Saya, Mamamuso, Mali Ni Ce, Battle of Qadesh, Bannaya, Mamaké, Cervantino, Elementos,
Musow, @Sauti za Busara, Hotter Than July, Ángulus,

Female Kora Virtuoso, Kemet, Rhythms of the World,

Inside Africa, World Music Winners, Fatafina, Watch
this Space, Gainaako, Musicport, Kora 109 Videos, 

YouTube Mix (47 videos) and Popular Videos (164 videos).