Biography:
Dembo Jobarteh, the Kora Musician, was born in 1976 (d. March
15, 2008 ) to a locally well known griot (Gewel) family in the
Gambian village of Niani Kayai. While being brought up in the
village he
laboured in the rice and groundnut fields. He would also hunt
in the bush and fish in the River
Gambia along with his childhood friends Moussa and Maudou.
At the age of 9 his parents sent him to live with a Marabout to
learn the
Koran,
and the 21 string Kora.
Three years later he moved on to another village and worked in
the
local bakery.
At the relatively early age of just 18 years became a professional
Kora player and jali. He later moved to Dakar, Senegal where he
worked as a musician. In 2001 he moved back to The Gambia and
set up as well as managed The Gambian Griot School of Music and
Dance in Faji Kunda.
The musical influences of Dembo Jobarteh are Youssou N'Dour for
his distinct voice and other Kora
players namely: Kandia Kouyate, Prince Diabate, Dembo Konte and
Amadu Bansang Jobarteh (his uncle). Amadu Bansang became well
known for his album Tabara. Another famous family member is Malamini
Jobarteh, father of Tata Dindin.
A couple of years later Dembo Jobarteh recorded a CD 'Listen All'
in 2003. Except for 4 of the tracks which were traditional Gambian
pieces the rest were written and composed by him. Accompanying
his music are four women singers called Sira and Fatoumata Suso,
Majo Sakiliba and Jessy Jobarteh.
Maybe because of his youth and upbringing in modern-day Gambia
he has showed a willingness to branch out and collaborate with
other genres such as the rap band the Dancehall
Masters. This was his first release of a CD over the Net.
He also has no qualms in incorporating the English language in
some of his compositions.
His second album, released in 2005, was titled
Gambia Banko. Again the album contains a rich variety of well
known traditional songs as well as his own compositions. Some
of the tracks feature the djembe.
Dembo's third album is titled 'Roots'.
Before he died he had said "I'd like to live in the U.S.A.
for a while like Foday Musa Suso" he says. "To hear
Cajun in Louisiana, the Blues in the deep south and Hip Hop in
Chicago. To go to Cuba and beat the drums to a hot Salsa. To record
with other artists, like Youssou N'dour. To bring my music to
all those people outside my country. That's why I named my first
international CD Listen All. Gambia Banko is a tribute to my country
and its people..."
He had hoped his cd's would get him in touch with music lovers
and musicians from around the world. His dream was to travel to
Europe and the U.S.A. Although he taught many students from around
the globe, this dream will never be fulfilled.
Dembo died of chronic malaria on March 15, 2008, at his home in
Fajikunda,
The Gambia.
Links & Official Website:
listenall.com
myspace.com/dembojobarteh
Gambian Griot School of Music
Discography:
• Listen All 2003
• Gambia Banko 2005
• Roots |
|
|
|
Music Musicians
