Sona Jobarteh is the first professional female Kora virtuoso to come from West Africa and her lineage carries a formidable reputation for renowned Kora masters, including her grandfather Amadu Bansang Jobarteh and her cousin, the legendary Toumani Diabaté.
Set Times:
6:00pm - DJ Passionfruit
7:00pm - The Nubian Sound Group
8:30pm - Sona Jobarteh
Please RSVP at Eventbrite
For Location, Parking & FAQ, click here
Preserving her musical past Sona Jobarteh innovates to support a more humanitarian future.
The spirit of Sona Jobarteh’s musical work stands on the mighty shoulders of The West African Griot Tradition; she is a living archive of the Gambian people. With one ear on the family’s historic reputation, one on the all-important future legacy and her heart in both places, she is preparing a place today for the next generation. Her singing and Kora playing while fronting her band, spring directly from this tradition. The extent of her recognition today is evidenced by more than 23 + million watchers on YouTube and considerable numbers on other digital platforms.All this despite singing her native languages and keeping to her own path within the music industry.
Sona’s dedication to spreading powerful humanitarian messages through her songs and her stage performances makes her much more than a musician; she is active in social change and leads by her own example. Sona singlehandedly set up The Gambia Academy, a pioneering institution dedicated to achieving educational reform across the continent of Africa. This Academy is the first of its kind to deliver a mainstream academic curriculum at a high level, whilst also bringing the culture, traditions and history that belong to its students, to the front and centre of their everyday education. These efforts have gained her invitations to deliver speeches at high profile events around the world – including summits for the UN, the World Trade Organization and UNICEF.
“Sona Jobarteh is Africa’s first female griot kora virtuoso, and also a fine singer and composer, blending traditional music, blues and Afro-pop to impressive effect”
The Nubian Sound Group is a traditional ensemble that performs the royal sounds of ancient Nubia, curated by Sudanese music director Mekail Eldaw Bakhit
Nubians are considered the Pharaohs of the Sudan, and this Los Angeles-based ensemble of local Nubian musicians and dancers will open the night with a rare performance of royal northeast African sounds. Get ready for an immersive and authentic presentation of ancient melodies and rhythms co-curated by and featuring multi-hyphenate Dexter Story.
Multidisciplinary DJ Passionfruit (Tana Yonas) spins vinyl with a focus on disco tracks from around the world. From Peru to Japan and Ukraine to South Africa, she is constantly digging around the world for foreign gems to heat up dance floors.
This performance is made possible in part by a grant from the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors through the Department of Arts and Culture.
