Born in a Gambian family of griots (poet-musicians), Sona Jobarteh established herself as the first female professional kora player. A remarkable fact, because according to the tradition for seven centuries, the West African stringed instrument is only passed on from father to son. Sona is clearly not bothered by the patriarchal society: with millions of views on YouTube and sold-out concerts around the world, she is undoubtedly one of the leading contemporary figures in West African music.

Sona's virtuosity as a musician is impressive. In addition to the kora, she also plays the balafon (a type of xylophone) and the ngoni (another stringed instrument). She writes her own compositions in which she masterfully fuses traditional rhythms and melodies with blues and Afropop influences. With her powerful voice, she not only sings lyrical stories about the past, but as an anthropologist she also draws attention to the importance of humanitarian values ​​and the power of social change.

Don't miss this unique concert in De Roma! In our beautiful hall Sona Jobarteh will take you through the rich history of West African music. Through her graceful presence and her engaged message, she is a particularly inspiring artist.

Line-up
Sona Jobarteh: singing and kora
Éric Appoulay: guitar
Andrew McLean: bass
Mouhamadou Sarr: percussion
Yuval Wetzler: drums