By Ismaila M.S. Naban
In West Africa, Kora, a 21-string harp built instrument from a large calabash cut in half and covered with cow skin to make a resonator with a long hardwood neck, is usually played by the menfolk, hence seen as an “androcentric” musical instrument.
This instrument, from a Mandingo tribe mainly found in the West African States of The Gambia, Mali, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Burkina Faso, plays a different note when beat with the fingers.
Traditionally, players of this unique musical instrument, are from special families or clans called “Jali”(griots) kunda who are traditional historians, genealogists and storytellers who would pass their skills on to their descendants.
As per accounts of people who know the instrument better, 11 of the 21-strings are played by the fingers of the left hand, while the remaining 10 by the right.
While Kora players have for decades been making their names in the West African region and beyond the African continent, the arrival of the first female kora player in to this male-dominated field of music, had been a surprise to many and continues to attract global attention around the Gambia’s kora virtuoso, Ms. Sona Jobarteh.
The outstanding female Kora player, who now travels from country to country to entertain her increasing number of global fans, hailed from a prestigious West African Griot family in the small West African country called The Gambia, affectionately dubbed “Smiling Coast of Africa”.
The female music lecturer, composer, and multi-instrumentalist, who is undoubtedly one of the most exciting talents from the West African Griot tradition to hit the stage in recent years, has announced a “new partnership” with Takamine Guitars.
She declared, this week, on her facebook page:” I’m very happy to be announcing my new partnership with the one and only Takamine Guitars! After playing their instruments all over the world for the past four years, I’m proud to now be officially endorsed by them. Their guitars are a perfect match for my music and my sound. Thank you Takamine!”
The news was welcomed by her many fans from around the globe. For more than half a century, Takamine is said to have “proudly dedicated itself to the art of fine guitar craftsmanship”.
According to the multilingual online encyclopedia-wikipedia, “Takamine is known for its steel-string acoustic guitars. The company was founded in May 1962; in 1978 they were one of the first companies to introduce acoustic-electric models, where they pioneered the design of the preamplifier-equalizer component. …The name comes from Mount Takamine located in Nakatsugawa.”
Ms. Jobarteh, who had performed in Europe and the Americas, is not keeping her talents to herself, as she’s pioneering The Gambia Academy of Music and Culture in her native country, The Gambia.
She founded the Junior Department of the Academy 2015 and named it after her late grandfather and master griot, Amadu Bansang Jobarteh. Since then, it’s said to have gained “rapid success” over the past three years, offering specialist musical education alongside a full academic curriculum.
Sona is making history in her career, and her songs are gradually becoming more appealing to different races of the world.
