Living
Legacies
Amandu Bansang Jobarteh was born in Tambasansang (upper-river Gambia) in 1904 (circa) before the time of the first world war. His father, who was originally from Mali, settled in Tambasansang before moving on to Bansang where Amadu grew up. He was introduced to music by his father but was taught the Kora by his elder brother, Bala Jobarteh, who was also the father of the legendary Malian Kora player, Sidiki Diabaté and grandfather of the celebrated world-renowned artist, Toumani Diabaté.
Amadu Bansang is acknowledged by many within the tradition as a ‘Master of the Kora’. His brilliance of tone and style of improvisation were distinctive, unique and instantly recognisable. He brought a
refinement to the repertoire, particularly in his transcriptions of Konting repertoire for the Kora, and had a dexterity in his playing that allowed for an incredible amount of polyphony and voicing almost unprecedented for a solo player. In his later years he traveled extensively to UK, Europe and America, held a post at the University of Michigan and released two recordings, Master of the Kora (1978) and Tabarah (1989). Amadu Bansang Jobarteh passed away in April 2001.
Amadu Bansang Jobarteh
(Kora)
ARTISTS WORKED WITH:
Bamba Suso
Sanjally Jobarteh
STUDENTS:
Sanjally Jobarteh
Tunde Jegede
Sona Jobarteh