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AfrobeatRadio welcomed Sona Jobarteh, the internationally acclaimed Gambian musician, composer, and pioneering female kora player, for an illuminating conversation about music, cultural heritage, and the role of the artist in society.
Born into one of West Africa’s five principal kora-playing families, Jobarteh has broken centuries of tradition as one of the first women to achieve international prominence as a master of the instrument, historically played by men within hereditary griot families. She began studying the kora at the age of three and made her first public performance at London’s Jazz Café at just four years old.
An accomplished multi-instrumentalist and composer, Jobarteh made her debut as a film composer in 2009. Her innovative approach to music includes the development of the Nkoni, an instrument combining elements of the kora and the donso ngoni, expanding the sonic possibilities of traditional West African string instruments.
In this conversation, Jobarteh reflects on her musical upbringing, the cultural significance of the kora, and the responsibilities of artists as custodians of history, identity, and social consciousness. Her reflections offer a compelling perspective on the relationship between artistic expression, cultural preservation, and social change.
Host: Wuyi Jacobs
CREDITS
afrobeatRadio producers
Dennis Kabatto
Akenataa Hammagaadji
Wuyi Jacobs
Kebba Konteh/Sona Jobarteh’s management
Music:
Sona Jobarteh: (1) Gambia, (2)Jarabi, (3) Gainaako & (4) Mali Ni Ce.
Learn more: sonajobarteh.com
Live broadcast 2018/08/08 & 2018/08/15 on WBAI 99.5 FM, NYC Pacifica Radio #AfrobeatRadio #SonaJobarteh sonajobarteh.com
