Sona Jobarteh: Global Voice of the Jeli
West African Storyteller & Keeper of Culture
BY NJEMILE Z. ALI
Sona Jobarteh is an internationally renowned kora virtuoso, deeply rooted in her homeland and local community in The Gambia. She lives KIZA’s intention: sharing stories, traditions and artistic innovations that define and advance Black culture. Her music creates a global fireside, reacquainting the African diaspora and others with beautiful gifts, talent and traditions from the Homeland. Recently awarded an honorary doctorate from Boston’s Berklee College of Music, Dr. Jobarteh travels the world with her music AND cultivates the natural talent and genius of youth back home.
She is the founder of The Gambia Academy, educating “young Africans in their culture, traditions and history seamlessly, alongside their everyday academic education.” Dr. Jobarteh has positioned The Gambia Academy to lead the way for a rebirth of African-centered education in institutions across the Continent.
As an educator, Dr. Jobarteh is fulfilling a vital part of her role as a jeli or jali, known in the west as a griot. Five family dynasties of jelis in West Africa serve as the official keepers of culture and history, through their work as storytellers and musicians. Jelis commit centuries of family and tribal history to memory, telling those stories at pivotal events, such as weddings, births and naming ceremonies. In The Gambia and Mali, jelis are also masters of the kora, a 21-stringed harp-flute indigenous to the region. Dr. Jobarteh is the first female professional kora master among all five dynasties, as well as an accomplished lyrical storyteller and social change maker.
As a representative of storytelling, history and culture, Sona Jobarteh embodies the spirit and intent of KIZA BlackLit. Storytelling is at the heart of what KIZA is all about. In fact, the word “KIZA” is derived from “kisa,” the Kiswahili word for story. As a traditionalist and a pioneer, Dr. Jobarteh carries with her millennia of African cultural practice, while she steps forward with the power and capacity of a contemporary African woman.
I discovered her music a few years ago, while conducting my own private tour of African music via YouTube. Before long, my virtual tour landed me in Mali and The Gambia, and that’s where I’ve been ever since. The depth, breadth and quality of musical production from this part of West Africa is second to none—On. The. Planet.
Dr. Jobarteh sings in her home language of Mandé. Listening to her music without understanding the language may be even more enchanting than it would be if I knew every word. Each track has a distinct sound, united by the power of her soft, yet energetic vocalizations. The album Fasiya begins with the upbeat sound of Jarabi, which provokes visions of young people having fun horse racing.
The next song, Mamamuso, begins with sultry notes and easy drumbeats. To my western ears, it is reminiscent of Spanish music. More likely, the sounds that we associate with Spain actually originated in the Sahel and West Africa. Mamamuso evokes images of floating easily across the dance floor, wearing a white flowing peasant dress, in the arms of a fashionable ebony-skinned prince with etched features. Then there’s Saya. The flute, sticks, pace and smooth lyrics send me touring the African continent on a cloud … or the wind.
Her most recent album is called Badinyaa Kumoo. Released in 2022, the collection showcases her skills on the kora with extended solos and upbeat tempos. You won’t sit down and listen to this one. Gratefully, we have several chances to see her live in concert, right here in the US, in 2024. That is a must-do for this year.
Upcoming concert appearances in the U.S. include several cities from February to May 2024, starting on the West coast and traveling East. She begins in Santa Barbara on February 22nd, followed by a joint concert with Taj Mahal in Los Angeles on February 23rd. Other stops include Santa Fe, Denver, New York and more points on the East Coast. Click to access Sona’s 2024 international schedule.
Sona Jobarteh is uniting the past, present and future of African creative genius, crafting a new story for The Gambia and the whole of Africa.