Sona Jobarteh

Kora virtuoso

Traditionally, the secrets of the kora were only ever passed down from father to son. But Sona Jobarteh, as the world’s first female kora virtuoso, is now writing music history. Born into a west-African griot family, she insisted even as a small child on playing the 21-string, harp-like instrument. Today, she moves and inspires a global audience with her compositions, and demonstrates on stage her complex musical ability as the frontwoman of her own band.