A Soto Koto Production

The Night of the Griots is a two-hour traditional, acoustic music, drumming, singing and dance experience. See it once and remember it always.It features the history and poetic storytelling of traditional Gambian musician and singer Jaliba Kuyateh and his 21-string kora instrument.The Jaliba Acoustic Ensemble consists of griots & griotress known as Jalibas & Jali Mussos. The kora master is known as Jaliba, meaning Our Musician-Singer of Culture.

These are the troubadors of Africa with folk music of The Gambia and the instruments that were brought from Africa to the Western Hemisphere and were the Roots of the Blues -- the Fulani riti (violin), the kora (harp), balafon (wooden xylophone), the xalam (predecessor of the banjo), the bolom (bass guitar), the dun dun (bass drums), the junjung, djembe, family hand drums and many windpipes, bambo flutes and other instruments. The Griot is the library of the Mandingo people. Since their history is remembered history and not written history, the Griot is the living history book, singing songs of the history and genealogoy of the Empire of Manding.

See it once, remember it always!
For booking information email
oko@sotokoto.tv

Pa Bobo Jobarteh

Pa Bobo Jobarteh

Black History Month USA 2011

For booking information email
oko@sotokoto.tv

The Griot (African troubador), singer and musician, Pa Bobo Jobarteh, from the historic Brikama griot family in The Gambia will be featured during Black History Month 2011 in the United States. Pa Bob Jobarteh is from the Jobarteh family, a traditional kora family dating back to the Empire of Manding in the region where Timbuktu is now located. He comes from the same family compound where Foday Musa Suso, Dembo Conteh, Tata Ding Ding and Jali Mamadi Jobarteh came from. These are the keepers of the history of the Mandingo Empire.

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For booking information email
oko@sotokoto.tv

Ancient African Musical Instruments that accompanied the Griots who are known as the Jalibas and the female griots who are known as Jali Muso.

The Mandingo Kora (African 21-string harp) Jali-Baa	The Mandingo Balafon (African xylophone) Jali-Baa and a female Jali-Baa vocalist	The Bambara Balom (a type of contrabass) players and a female handbell percussionist	The Fula Riti (African violin) and acrobats