Jarabi and the song that immediately follows it, Mamamuso, show both sides to this extraordinary instrument. Formed out of a round calabash, a neck is attached along with the many strings, which allows it to be more portable, and the closeness of the strings allow for fast finger-picking that creates a uniquely West African sound. Harps can often be characterised with a slower, more glacial style – that said, the Paraguayan harp playing tradition often uses it to play lively Latin rhythms – and the kora is anything but glacial. The kora is often likened to a western harp, though that is to somewhat downplay the vitality of the instrument. Passionate about educational reform in The Gambia, she founded The Gambia Academy, a place for children to learn about the, history, traditions and music of their country and continent.įasiya is full of songs that demonstrate Jobarteh’s mastery of her instrument. She also uses her position as a social activist. From there, she took to the instrument, eventually challenging gender roles to become the first Gambian woman to play the kora professionally. Usually, the knowledge of how to play this 21-stringed instrument was passed down from father to son, and that was the case until her brother, Tunde Jegede, himself a renowned kora player, began teaching a young Jobarteh from the age of three. However, even considering the astounding amount of history and music behind her, she is a trailblazer due to her being the first female professional kora player. She is from such a dynasty, with her griot lineage running back seven centuries.

Youssou N’Dour is from a griot family, as are the Malian dynasty of Diabaté kora players, who are Sona Jobarteh's cousins. Griots are musicians, storytellers, poets, oral historians, whom have a proud place in the culture of their regions, and the history often goes back centuries often passed down a familial line.

Among many, one thing the two countries share culturally is something that is widespread across Western Africa, and that is the griot culture. Shaped snake-like, as if acting as a buffer for the Gambia River, this tiny country nonetheless has a distinct culture, yet one inevitably closely linked to the country that surrounds it at all sides, except where it borders the Atlantic Ocean – Senegal. The Gambia is mainland Africa’s smallest nation.

Sona jobarteh music