Musicman 1
Sona Jobarteh
Maya Sona Jobarteh is a Malian musician but born and raised in London. She was born in 1983 into one of the five principal Kora-playing Griot families from West Africa. She is the granddaughter of the Master Griot Amadu Bansang. Her cousin is well-known, celebrated Kora player Toumani Diabate. She is the sister of the renowned Diaspora Kora player Tunde Jegede. Jobarteh is a student of African history at SOAS. She is the music composer of the epic film Motherland. Sona Jobarteh hails from a long West African tradition of Griots and Kora players; Creating her own history, she has broken from the male-dominated Kora tradition to become the family's first female virtuoso of the instrument. When she came to Bush House studios in London, she spoke to BBC's Fred Dove about her family's musical tradition, her love of the Kora and the music she is creating.
With a debut album and a film score already available, Sona is working on tracks for her second album release... Fasiya. Sona came to Bush House to perform a Network Africa video session with guitarist Femi Temowo and percussionist Robert Fordjour. They performed 'Jarabi' and 'Saya' ... both tracks from the forthcoming record.
Sona attended the Royal College of Music where she studied cello, piano and harpsichord, and soon after went onto the Purcell School of Music to study composition. During this time she was involved in working on several orchestral projects including the ‘River of Sound’ with the Irish Chamber Orchestra, featuring Evelyn Glennie, and other collaborative works including performances with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Britten Sinfonia, Milton Keynes City Orchesrtra and the Viva Chamber Orchestra.
In 2002 Sona travelled to Vienna to perform with the renowned Jazz vocalist Cleveland Watkiss, also forming a part of his support act for Cassandra Wilson at the Barbican in London. She also featured on Damon Albarn’s Mali Music Project which was later performed for Jools Holland.
As a performing musician Sona has collaborated with musicians from around the world, and is a regular member of the African Classical Music Ensemble which has toured England, Ireland, Africa and parts of the Caribbean. She has contributed to the well-established composer/musician Tunde Jegede’s albums Malian Royal Court Music and Lamentations, for which she composed two pieces, one of which also featured on the album Trans Planet Vol. 5 which was released on Triloka records, Virgin in the states.
It is a genuine thrill to uncover the roots of the Jobartehs from Bansang in Upper River Division..... who are not only related to the Diabates (Toumani et al) of Senegal, but also the English speaking Mandinka Jobartehs of Brikama in the Lower River Division of The Gambia.
A long long time ago.... Amadou Bansang Jobarteh and cousin Malamin Baba Jobarteh were small boys at the beginning of the 20th. Century. It sure does take your breath away!!
Jarabi
Saya
Live...in London
Akala
Gainaako
Fasiyaa
Sona Jobarteh and Dan Jeans
Inside Africa
Musicman 1