"An Evening with Sona Jobarteh"
June 9, 2021
Wednesday, March 24, 2027, 7:30 PM
Street and Davis Performance Hall, Anne and Ellen Fife Theatre
This performance will last approximately 90 minutes with no intermission.*
"Virtuosic kora playing and a voice of luminous strength."
— The Independent
As the first professional female virtuoso of the stringed kora, an instrument historically reserved for male griots, Sona Jobarteh brings a powerful new voice to a centuries-old West African tradition. Performing with her band, she blends intricate kora playing, expressive vocals, and buoyant rhythms to move seamlessly between traditional Mandinka songs and contemporary influences.
Born into one of Gambia’s great griot families, Jobarteh carries forward an ancestral legacy of storytelling, while shaping its future on the global stage. Both intimate and electrifying, her performances invite audiences into a living musical tradition where history, artistry, and modern energy meet.
About Sona Jobarteh
Sona Jobarteh is reputed for her skill as an instrumentalist, distinctive voice, infectious melodies, and grace onstage, and she has rapidly achieved international success as a world-class performer. Preserving her musical past, Jobarteh innovates to support a more humanitarian future.
Jobarteh’s music stands on the mighty shoulders of the West African griot tradition — she is a living archive of the Gambian people. Her lineage carries a formidable reputation for renowned kora masters, most notable among whom are her grandfather, Amadu Bansang Jobarteh, and her cousin, the legendary Toumani Diabaté. With one ear on the family’s historic reputation, one on the all-important future legacy, and her heart in both places, she is preparing a place today for the next generation. Her singing and kora playing while fronting her band spring directly from this tradition.
With over 23 million views on YouTube and considerable numbers on other digital platforms, she paves her own path in the music industry while singing in her native languages.
Jobarteh has performed throughout the U.S., from the Hollywood Bowl in L.A. to Symphony Space in New York City, and at the WOMAD festival in Australia and New Zealand. She has played sold-out shows in London at the Barbican, at Cologne’s Philharmonie, and at Seine Musicale in Paris. These performances are underpinned by her skills as a composer, honed during her early days at London’s Royal College of Music and Purcell School of Music.
She scored the film Motherland in 2010 and by 2022 was scoring for the Hollywood blockbuster Beast, starring Idris Elba; co-writing a track on LL Cool J’s latest album with Q-Tip; and filming several of her live shows for CBS’ 60 Minutes.
Jobarteh’s dedication to spreading powerful humanitarian messages through her songs and stage performances makes her much more than a musician; she is active in social change and leads by example. She singlehandedly established the Gambia Academy, a pioneering institution dedicated to achieving educational reform across Africa. This academy is the first of its kind to deliver a mainstream academic curriculum at a high level, while also bringing the culture, traditions, and history that belong to its students to the front and center of their everyday education. These efforts have led to invitations to speak at high-profile events around the world, including summits for the United Nations, the World Trade Organization, and UNICEF.
Co-sponsored by the Cranwell International Center and the Women's Community Center
This is Sona Jobarteh's first performance at the center.
Photos by Dan Pier Paris and Rob O'Connor, courtesy of Sona Jobarteh
* Run times listed here are based on information provided at this time and are subject to change.
FAQs
About This Event
The kora is a 21-string West African instrument that combines elements of a harp and a lute. It is known for its rich, flowing sound and has been played for centuries by griots, who preserve history through music and storytelling.
Griots are traditional West African storytellers, historians, musicians, and keepers of oral history. For generations, they have preserved family histories, cultural traditions, and important events through music and storytelling.
Sona Jobarteh blends traditional West African music with contemporary influences. Accompanied by her band, she combines intricate kora playing, expressive vocals, and rhythmic percussion to create music that is rooted in tradition while appealing to modern audiences.
Sona Jobarteh is widely recognized as the first professional female virtuoso of the kora, an instrument that was traditionally performed only by male griots. While honoring centuries of musical tradition, she is helping shape its future for new generations.
Not at all. Sona Jobarteh's performances combine beautiful melodies, captivating rhythms, and engaging storytelling that welcome both longtime fans of world music and first-time listeners.
No. Sona Jobarteh performs with her band, creating a rich, energetic concert that features the kora alongside vocals, percussion, and other instruments.
Sona Jobarteh performs songs in several West African languages, including her native Mandinka. While you may not understand every word, the emotion, musicianship, and storytelling transcend language.
Attending a Performance at the Center
The most important thing is that you're comfortable. There is no dress code, so do what feels right for you. Do you want to get dressed to the nines for a special night out? You won't be the only one. Do you feel like keeping things casual? You won't be alone there, either.
All campus parking, including along Alumni Mall, requires a parking permit from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., unless otherwise noted by signage.
Parking is available in the North End Parking Garage on Turner Street at 300 Turner Street NW.
- For many Center for the Arts performances and large events, this garage will be staffed by an attendant and payment ($10, cash only) must be made at the time of entry. This event parking price is $2 higher than the garage’s daily rate to allow us to provide staffing to make both entering and exiting the garage more efficient for larger numbers of cars. You may exit at the Turner Street gate.
- All other times, visitors can take a ticket upon entrance and pay the $8 daily rate using Visa or Mastercard when exiting.
Convenient parking is also located in downtown Blacksburg. Town parking is free every day after 5:00 p.m.
Patrons are always welcome to drop off and pick up guests directly at the main doors of the Center for the Arts on Alumni Mall and Turner Street.
Allowing yourself extra time improves the experience for everyone! We recommend arriving at least 45 minutes prior to the start of the performance so you have plenty of time for the safety screening and to get settled in your seats. Our lobbies and galleries open 90 minutes before performances, and the theatre doors open 30 minutes before the performance start time. Ushers will direct you to your seat and are happy to answer any questions.
For the safety of our guests and performers, all patrons may be required to pass through a walk-through metal detector before entering the theatre. The process is quick and touchless, and you may keep your personal belongings with you. If you need an alternate screening method, please speak with a member of our security team.
A small or clutch-size purse or clear bag is recommended. Oversized bags, luggage, and backpacks will not be permitted inside the theatre. Coat check will be available to check these items.
Concessions from Blacksburg Wine Lab are available for most performances. Concessions availability and locations will be included in the What to Know email for ticket holders. Concessions are available beginning an hour before the performance, so arrive early to avoid the lines and enjoy a drink before the show.
Yes. Beer, wine, and non-alcoholic beverages purchased from concessions may be enjoyed inside the Anne and Ellen Fife Theatre when served in an approved Center for the Arts reusable cup. The cup is yours to keep, so wash it at home and bring it back to be refilled at future events where Blacksburg Wine Lab operates concessions. Other cups, containers, and outside beverages are not permitted. Learn more on our blog.
Cameras and recording equipment are not permitted inside the theatre during performances. To avoid distracting the artists and those around you, please turn off or silence your cell phone and put away all electronic devices before the performance begins. Photography, video recording, and audio recording are not permitted unless otherwise announced.
If you’re late, you may hear the beginning of the performance from the lobby while you wait to take your seat — either until intermission or an appropriate break in the program as requested and advised by the artists. Admitting late arrivals into the theatre is timed to cause as little disruption as possible to other guests and the performers on stage. In some cases, you may be seated in an alternate location in the theatre.
You will receive a “What to Know” email approximately 48 hours before the performance with helpful information on approximate runtimes, pre- and post-show activities, and any other information you will need to know before you head out the door.
We are committed to being fully accessible to all patrons and their companions and strive to make our patrons’ experiences convenient and comfortable. In addition to our venue’s universal design features, we offer services and accommodations for parking, seating, listening, sensory support, courtesy wheelchair, elevators, restrooms, service animals, sign language, and visual aids. Find out more.
No. Mobile tickets displayed on your smartphone are welcome, though printed tickets are also accepted.
While all sales are final, tickets to most events may be exchanged for another Center for the Arts performance within the current season. Please contact the box office at artscenter@vt.edu or by phone at 540-231-5300 at least one hour in advance of the scheduled performance to request an exchange. Refunds may be offered in extenuating circumstances at the discretion of the box office manager.