Biography:
Pa Bobo Jobarteh is a Mandinka bard, a virtuoso kora
player. He composes his own music and performs with
his own band called the The Kaira Band was formed in
1988. Fusing hot Senegalese mbalax drumming with cool
Manding kora. Its what could be called modern Afro-Manding
music for dances and parties.
His rising popularity in The Gambia comes as a result
of his adaptations & progression with the musical
traditions of his birth.
Pa Bobo was born into one of The Gambia’s most famous
Jali families, a family whose musical tradition in West
Africa began many generations ago in the eighteenth
century. His Father is Malamini Jobarteh (formerly manager
of The Gambia National Troup, now retired from music),
his grandfather was Kelung Jobarteh and his great grandfather
Wandifery Jobarteh, all masters of the kora.
Pa began to play Kora at 6. His international career
started with a European tour at age 11. In 1988, aged
just 13, he played at WOMAD in the UK to large audiences
both in Cornwall and Reading. He has also performed
concert tours in Senegal, Singapore and Australia. At
22 Pa recorded `Kaira Naata` for `Real World Records`.
Now his rising popularity in The Gambia is a result
of his adaptations & progression with the musical
traditions of his birth.
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Discography /
Music Downloads: |
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Contact Address Details:
Kaira Kunda Arts Centre
Pa Bobo Jobarteh
Jali Kunda
Brikama, Kombo Central
Western Division
The Gambia
Telephone number:
4484143 Discography:
• 1999: Kaira
Naata (Real World Records, UK)
• 2000: Duwa
(Pa Bobo and The Kaira Band) •
2001:
Pa’s song, ‘Peace Love and Unity’, featured on
a compilation album produced by Gambian Radio
and Television •
2003:
Pa Bobo was the featured Kora player on album
recorded with Senegalese rap band, Tim Tim Mol
• 2003:
Pa Bobo Unplugged - acoustic, solo album
• 2006:
New CD from Pa Bobo and The Kaira Band to be released
in early 2006 |
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