Sona Jobarteh

On 10 April 2026 Sona Jobarteh will perform at Muziekgebouw Eindhoven. A singer, composer and kora player, she comes from a Mandinka griot family and grew up between Gambia and the United Kingdom. In her music she anchors the Mande tradition in a contemporary sound, with melodic kora motifs, choral singing and spare string arrangements. Folk, Afro-pop and sometimes jazz naturally sit alongside one another, with lyrics in Mandinka and English.

Since her debut Afro-Acoustic Soul (2008) and Fasiya (2011) through to Badinyaa Kumoo (2022), Jobarteh has been developing a distinctive songwriting voice, with the kora as her guide. On stage she leads her band with a rhythmic flow, leaving space for harmonies and a dialogue between voice and string. Repertoire from her albums forms the core, supplemented by themes from West African heritage and new material.

Sona Jobarteh has played festivals in Europe, Africa and North America and has collaborated with musicians such as Toumani Diabaté and Oumou Sangaré. In Eindhoven that international experience comes together in a set that lets the tradition speak while also looking forward.