Pioneering Gambian kora player Sona Jobarteh draws from her Griot lineage in a performance of technically intricate melodies accompanied by her five-piece band.
Gambian kora virtuoso Sona Jobarteh comes from a prestigious West African Griot family. She is one of the first female musicians to break away from a tradition that has been dominated by men for seven centuries by telling ancient stories through her music.
After learning to play kora aged five, Jobarteh went on to study western classical music and has composed cinematic scores and recorded vocals for various Hollywood films. She has collaborated with BBC Symphony Orchestra and headlined music festivals around the world.
Jobarteh is a regular member of her brother Tunde Jegedes African Classical Music Ensemble, has set up a music school in The Gambia named after her grandfather and performed alongside her cousin, the Malian kora player, Toumani Diabat. She makes a special appearance in Edinburgh with her five-piece band.
Made possible through the PLACE programme
