Dawda Jobarteh is an acclaimed musician and composer from Gambia who plays the West African harp – the kora. Dawda comes from a traditional griot family – a long line of kora players and storytellers, but as a child, the percussion had his heart, so he figured out how to make a small drum out of a tomato can. In the end, his family gave in to his desire to play the drums, so when Dawda originally was invited to Denmark, it was to teach percussion. After moving to Copenhagen, he taught himself to play the more neighbor-friendly instrument of the kora, and now this is his main instrument.
In this program he explains how he combines his West African musical background with Danish and international inspirations in his music making as well as in collaborations.
How do new roads of listening show up when you change your surroundings? How do you listen with innocent ears? And what is the difference between music from Gambia and music from Mali?

With: Dawda Jobarteh. Idea and production: Signe Marie Svennum.

The series is made with support from the Danish Arts Foundation.

Tracklist:

Dawda Jobarteh: I met her by the river

Dawda Jobarteh: Jeg gik mig ud en sommerdag

Dawda Jobarteh: Hello

Dawda Jobarteh / Stefan Pasborg Duo: A change has come

Dawda Jobarteh: Efo

CTM feat. Dawda Jobarteh: Spender

Alhaji Bai Konte: Jato

Toumani Diabaté: Djelika

Salif Keita: Mandjou

Youssou N’Dour: Bamako

Bembeya Jazz National: Alalaké

Bill Frisell: Boubakar