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  Maya Sona
Jobarteh is the first professional female korafolá A korafolá is a kora player in mandinka (who is able to make the kora talk) - korafolálu,
plural. hailing from a jèlílujèlílu (plural, jèlílu) are bards, loremasters, and praise-singers in the Manding areas whose functions are
story-telling, speaking about lineages, singing and playing music as they want and hear it. family, as well as a vocalist, multi-instrumentalist and composer from the Gambia and the UK.
She was born in 1983 into Jobarteh family from Gambia, most famous korafoláluA kora player is called korafolá (who is able to make the
kora talk) - korafolálu, plural. in West Africa. She is the granddaughter of the Master Griot of his generation, Amadu
Bansang JobartehAmadu Bansang Jobarteh was a famous korafolá in his country (Gambia), hailing from the great jèlílu family of the Diabate from Gambia and Mali... , creator (like Alhaji Bai KontehAlhaji Bai Konte was a very famous korafolá in Gambia, like Jali Nyama Suso, though less popular and less known abroad his country. But his heritage is still immense...) of a kora new playing style, the «yeyengo» style  , and cousin of the
well-known celebrated kora player
Toumani Diabate and she is also the sister of the renowned korafolá A korafolá is a kora player in mandinka (who is able to make the
kora talk) - korafolálu, plural.
Tunde Jegede. She has studied the kora since the age of three, and gave her first performance at London's Jazz Café when she was four.
Sona attended the Royal College of Music where she studied cello, piano and harpsichord, and soon after she 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 Orchestra 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 she 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
Tunde Jegede's albums Malian Royal Court Music and Lamentations, for which she composed two pieces. Having completed her degree at SOAS University, Sona divides her time as a performer and
teacher of kora, sharing its repertoire and history with a new generation of people interested in learning about this most exquisite instrument.
Sona has completed her debut album entitled 'Afro Acoustic Soul' in 2008, which expressed and explored the many facets of her unique musical heritage.
In 2010, she made her debut as a film composer for the documentary film Motherland directed
by Owen 'Alik Shahadah which has won awards in both America and Africa.
Sona's new album FASIYA, which has recently been released, takes her musical expertise to a completely new level. Drawing on
her unique heritage and bringing in a selection of top-class West African musicians such as Juldeh Camara, Sankung Jobarteh, Femi Temowo, Baba Gallé Kante, Babacar Dieng, and Surahata Susso, the album is a real gem.
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Sona Jobarteh, Motherland, West African Guild Records - 2011 |
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Sona Jobarteh, Fasiya, West African Guild Records - 2011 |
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Généalogie des
korafolálu célèbres d'Afrique de l'Ouest.
Genealogy of the
famous West African korafolálu
Amadu Bansang Jobarteh était un korafolá fort célèbre en Gambie, issu de cette grande famille de griots innovateurs que sont les Diabaté de Gambie et du Mali... Lire la suite.
Toumani Diabaté est un des fils du griot légendaire Sidiki Diabaté. Virtuose korafolá , il a beaucoup contribué au dé veloppement de la kora... Lire la suite.
