Amadu Bansang Jobarteh

Amadu Bansang Jobarteh (also written as Amadou , * around 1915 in Tambasan Sang , Gambia ; † April 8, 2001 in Bansang , Gambia) was a respected and influential musician in Gambia. He played the West African kora , a 21-string bridge harp.

Life

Jobarteh belongs to the Jali ( Griot ) tradition . Jobarteh's father, Fili Jobarteh, was a ngoni player from Gaalen near Kita , Mali , who settled in Tambasan Sang in the late 19th century and performed prize songs under the patronage of local ruler Falai Kora. Property disputes after his death forced Fili Jobarteh to leave the place. He found a new job with the Darboe family in Bansang . There the young Jobarteh learned to play the kora, the mandinka instrument widely used in Gambia . Around 1940 Jobarteh went to the small kingdom of Kombo , where he found employment with the local leaders. He was later supported by a wealthy trader from Gunjur . 1986–1987 Jobarteh was a guest musician at the music ethnology department of the University of Washington .

Amadu is the uncle of the musician Sidiki Diabaté , who in turn is the father of the well-known Malian musician Toumani Diabaté . Sanjally Jobarteh learned to play the kora from his father; today he lives in Kembuje, Gambia. His daughter Sona Jobarteh plays kora, guitar and cello. Amadu Bansang Jobarteh's most famous publication is Tabara .

Musically he was active for almost 60 years from the 1940s. He died in his home on April 8, 2001.

Discography

• 1978 Master of the Kora (EAVADISC)
• 1994 Tabara (Music of the World)

literature

• Lucy Durán: Theme and variation in kora music: A preliminary study of "Tutu Jara" as performed by Amadu Bansang Jobate. In: DR Widdess, RF Wolpert (Ed.): Music and Tradition. Essays on Asian and other musics presented to Laurence Picken. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge 1981, pp. 183-196

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Amadu Bansang Jobarteh - Gambia, West Africa. ( Memento June 10, 2010 on the Internet Archive ) University of Washington