Sona Jobarteh

On 31 March 2026 at La Seine Musicale in Boulogne-Billancourt, Sona Jobarteh offered a rare perspective on the kora. An Anglo‑Gambian singer and instrumentalist, she distinguishes herself with precise playing and a restrained vocal style, rooted in the Mande tradition. Born into a lineage of griots and the granddaughter of the master Amadu Bansang Jobarteh, she was introduced to the kora at an early age by her elder brother. Trained at the Royal College of Music and then at the Purcell School of Music, she composes and moves between kora, piano, cello, harpsichord and guitar, while cultivating collaborations ranging from Toumani Diabaté and Oumou Sangaré to the BBC Symphony Orchestra. On stage, Sona presents a repertoire in which kora melodies mingle with supple rhythms and a clear vocal line. At her side are Andi McLean on bass, Eric Appapoulay on guitar, Yuval Wetzler or Yomi Sehindemi on percussion, and Sidiki Codjoe-Jobarteh on balafon. Her work addresses heritage, cultural identity and the transmission of tradition. In Banjul she founded the Amadu Bansang Jobarteh school to introduce young people to Mande instruments such as the kora, balafon, n'goni and djembe. The concert links West African traditions with contemporary sensibilities, led by a musician with a distinctive trajectory.