She has studied the Kora since the age of three, at first taught by her brother Tunde Jegede, who is 11 years older, and with whom she traveled several times a year to the Gambia as a child, and then by her father, Sanjally Jobarteh. She attended the Royal College of Music, where she studied cello, piano, and harpsichord, and soon after went on to the Purcell School of Music to study composition.[1][7] She also completed a degree at SOAS, University of London. She is fluent in Mandinka.
She gave her first performance at London's Jazz Café when she was four years old, and performed at festivals several times in her early childhood.
When still a music student she worked on several orchestral projects including the "River of Sound" with the Irish Chamber Orchestra, featuring Evelyn Glennie, and other collaborative works including performances with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Britten Sinfonia, Milton Keynes City Orchestra and the Viva Chamber Orchestra.
In 2002 she performed in Vienna with the renowned jazz vocalist Cleveland Watkiss, also forming a part of his support act for Cassandra Wilson at the Barbican in London. She also featured on Damon Albarn's Mali Music Project which was later performed for Jools Holland.
Jobarteh also teaches the Kora in London. She worked with her father, Sanjally Jobarteh, in setting up a formal music school in The Gambia, named after her famous grandfather.
In addition to the Kora, she also sings and plays the guitar.
Sona Jobarteh & Band - Kora Music from West Africa
Because of you...I am falling in love with all of Africa's rich, dangerously beautiful and deep deep deep sounds...Sounds so new to my ears...Both musically and vocally...My hands are moving, feet moving, body shaking, and heart-pumping blood a bit too fart...Every track...Thank you Sona and everyone that made this a musical
Listening from East Africa. I don't understand a word...and yet I understand everything. Soul language. Love, love, love.
Sona Jobarteh - GAMBIA
Sona Jobarteh's debut music video "Gambia" in celebration of the Golden Jubilee of Independence for the Gambia in 2015.
This video features the traditional Mandinka Drum called the 'Seruba', an instrument no longer featured much in Gambian mainstream society.
By featuring the drum in this song, Sona aims not only to resonate with the deep history of the Mandinka people but also to boost and promote awareness of this instrument both in the Gambia and internationally.
, I'm Brazilian and already liked in the first 3 seconds, loved the rest.
Sona Jobarteh - Kaira
Performance 8 July 2018. Sona Jobarteh is the first female Kora virtuoso from a West African griot family. First in a tradition that is several centuries old, in which the Kora mastery was exclusively passed down from father to son.
Since the release of her album 'Fasiya', she is justifiably praised, both as an instrumentalist and vocalist. Live, she is accompanied by four musicians.
If I ever have a daughter, her name would surely be Sona!! Definitely!! Peace in Africa!