INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS TIMES NEWSLETTER SIGNUP My account Log Out May 19, 11:21 AM EDT World U.S. Economy & Markets Companies Technology Digital Life Culture Sports Crypto Opinion NEWSLETTER My account Log Out US Edition World U.
S. Economy & Markets Companies Technology Digital Life Culture Sports Crypto Opinion Listings & More Spotlight Glossary SMB Forum Glossary K-Wave CEO Spotlight Editions Australia Edition India Edition International Edition Singapore Edition United Kingdom United States NEWSLETTER Follow Us Editions Australia Edition India Edition International Edition Singapore Edition United Kingdom United States World Breaking Men-only Musical Lore, Jobarteh Puts African Kora On Wider Stage By Marietou BA Published 05/19/24 AT 10:21 AM EDT Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on LinkedIn Share on Reddit Share on Flipboard Share on Pocket Gambian Sona Jobarteh performs at Abidjan's FEMUA music festival AFP For Sona Jobarteh, Africa's first woman to play the sacred kora professionally, breaking with tradition has not been easy. At Abidjan's FEMUA urban music festival, which closes in the Ivory Coast city on Sunday, Jobarteh went on stage with percussionists, guitarists and a balafon player.
In her hands, the 21 metallic strings of the kora -- an instrument shaped like a lute and plucked like a harp -- to create captivating melodies over repeated rhythms. "The process of getting to learn the kora was different for me than it was for male members of the family," she.
