dembo jobarteh

Bakau, Gambia

July 05, 2003

4,499 plays
17,875 views

I'm a griot from The Gambia, West Africa. I love to play traditional songs I learned from my father and other griots. And I also compose my own songs.

Band/artist history

I was born in 1976 in Niani Kayai, The Gambia, as a member of a well known griot family. My father plays kora and my mother is a griot singer. 

My youth I spent studying the koran, music and working in the fields. I learned hundreds of traditional songs and also studied drums and balafon. Later I moved to Dakar, Senegal, where I worked as a musician. 

In 2001 I became the manager of Gambian Griot School of Music and Dance at Serrekunda, The Gambia. Here I teach students from all over the world to play kora or drums.

Have you performed in front of an audience?

I always play live and I love the contact with the audience. It's not easy to get visa if you're an African, so I mostly play in The Gambia.

Your musical influences

Other griots and koraplayers like my uncle Amadu Bansang Jobarteh, Prince Diabate, Dembo Konte, Kandia Kouyate. And Youssou N'Dour, with his golden voice and great rhythm.

What equipment do you use?

I play a 21 string kora, a westafrican harp lute.

Anything else?

Send me an e-mail if you'd like to learn to play kora or mandinka drums.

#koraKoramusicAfricanMu