SONA JOBARTEH

The kora is a West African harp instrument with 21 strings that is traditionally played by men. Sona Jobarteh has broken this old rule! She plays the kora standing up and demonstrates her complex musical skills on stage as the front woman of her own band.

She learned the instrument from her brother at the age of four, laying the foundations for her international career. Sona later studied music at the Royal College of Music, composition at the Purcell School of Music and African Studies at the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London. In her compositions, she uniquely combines the influences of modern music with traditional African music and thus remains connected to the roots of her homeland.

For some years now, Sona has also been involved in social work by founding the “Amadu Bansang Jobarteh School” in Gambia, where children can study the traditional music of her homeland.