Musician Sona Jobarteh on becoming the world's first female kora player • FRANCE 24 English

Summary

Sona Jobarteh, a British-Gambian musician, is revolutionizing the traditional role of women in West African music by playing the Kora, an instrument historically passed down through male lineage. Raised in The Gambia with a father and brother who played the Kora, she overcame societal barriers to pursue music professionally. Sona’s work blends African heritage with classical training, gaining international success with her album *Gambia*. She is also reshaping education in Africa through The Gambia Academy, which teaches African history, culture, and languages. Sona’s efforts aim to empower African youth and promote cultural pride worldwide.

Takeaways

• 😀 Sona Gbatie is a British-Gambian artist who plays the Cora, a West African instrument traditionally passed down from father to son in male-dominated families.
• 😀 Sona began playing the Cora at a young age, initially taught by her elder brother, and later pursued it professionally in her teens with her father's guidance.
• 😀 Women were traditionally not allowed to play the Cora, but Sona broke this tradition, finding a personal connection to the instrument and a drive to continue its legacy.
• 😀 Although she studied classical music in London, including playing the cello, Sona felt a deep cultural disconnect and sought ways to integrate her African heritage into her education.
• 😀 While studying at a prestigious institution in London, Sona discovered a Cora gifted by her brother and began practicing with it in secret, reigniting her passion for the instrument.
• 😀 At age 17, Sona asked her father to teach her the Cora properly, with her father focusing on her becoming a good player, regardless of her gender.
• 😀 Sona’s first album, 'Fasia,' was released in 2011, blending traditional and new music, while her 2015 song 'Gambia' became an unofficial national anthem in her home country.
• 😀 The release of 'Gambia' in 2015 marked a turning point in Sona’s career, with international recognition and a stronger cultural identity as a female voice in a male-dominated tradition.
• 😀 Sona’s new album, 'Bandina Kamu,' features all original music addressing themes like education, women's empowerment, and personal identity, performed in Mandinka language.
• 😀 Sona founded The Gambia Academy in 2015 to teach African languages, culture, and history alongside mainstream subjects, challenging colonial educational systems and empowering students with pride in their African heritage.

Q & A

Why was Sona Gibate drawn to play the Kora despite the tradition being passed down only to men in her family?

Sona's interest in playing the Kora started when her elder brother taught her at a young age. Although it was not a decision she made herself initially, her passion for the instrument grew as she got older. She decided to pursue it professionally with the support of her father, marking a turning point in her life.

How did Sona Gibate's experience with classical music influence her approach to the Kora?

Sona studied classical music, including playing the cello, at a prestigious school in London. Although classical music felt far removed from her African heritage, she valued the experience and found it helpful in blending her cultural background with the music she was learning. This helped her later when she returned to the Kora.

What role did the gift of the Kora by Sona's brother play in her return to the instrument?

Sona's brother had gifted a Kora to the school where she studied, and she started seeing the instrument while pursuing her studies. Although the Kora wasn't part of the curriculum, it sparked her interest, and she began spending time with it in the evenings, which eventually led her to pursue the Kora seriously.

What was significant about Sona's father's approach to teaching her the Kora?

Sona's father agreed to teach her the Kora but emphasized that his challenge for her was to become a good Kora player, not to focus on being a good female player. This approach reinforced the importance of skill over gender, highlighting his desire to pass down the tradition to her as his child rather than as a daughter.

What was the impact of Sona's 2015 song 'Gambia' on her career?

The release of 'Gambia' in 2015, a song celebrating Gambian independence, brought Sona significant national and international recognition. It became a powerful anthem and a defining moment in her career, highlighting her as a new voice within the tradition and culture, especially as a female artist.

Why does Sona choose to sing in the Mandinka language on her latest album?

Sona chose to sing in Mandinka to demonstrate that African languages are just as valuable as global languages like English or French. She wanted to challenge the idea that success on the international stage requires mastering languages like English, empowering people to embrace their native languages.

What does Sona believe the use of African languages in her music achieves?

Sona believes that using African languages in her music empowers both African and non-African audiences, promoting the idea that local languages are valuable and can achieve international recognition. She sees this as a way to challenge the notion that success requires using dominant global languages.

What motivated Sona to found The Gambia Academy, and what does it aim to achieve?

Sona founded The Gambia Academy in 2015 to address the limitations of colonial-based education systems in Africa. The school integrates African languages, culture, and history with mainstream subjects to empower students and promote pride in African heritage, ultimately aiming to create a more culturally relevant education system.

What impact has The Gambia Academy had on its students?

The Gambia Academy has had a transformative effect on its students, helping them embrace their African identity and boosting their confidence. By providing an education rooted in African culture, the students gain a sense of pride and self-worth that is often overlooked in traditional education systems.

What is Sona's vision for the future of The Gambia Academy?

Sona's vision for The Gambia Academy is to expand its model and replicate it in other institutions across Africa. While the current student body is small, the school will soon increase its capacity, with the goal of creating an education system that reflects and respects African traditions, history, and culture.