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.
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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Music Musicians
