Sona Jobarteh & Band

Single tickets go on sale August 6, 2026 @ 10am.

Sona Jobarteh is a living archive of the Gambian people, with her musical spirit honoring the West African griot tradition. Challenging norms, Jobarteh became the first professional female kora (a 21-stringed African harp) player. With an eye on both history and the future, she is paving the way for the next generation. Her latest album, Badinyaa Kumoo, is an exciting fusion of traditional music with Afropop and blues. From Los Angeles’ Hollywood Bowl to New York’s Symphony Space, London’s Barbican to Cologne’s Philharmonie, Jobarteh’s performances have enthralled sold-out crowds worldwide.

Two visionary forces shaping the future of African diasporic music come together in two complementary sets for an evening that honors deep musical lineages while embracing a new global perspective. Sona Jobarteh, the first professional female kora virtuoso to emerge from a West African griot dynasty, carries this centuries-old tradition forward through luminous vocals and masterful musicianship. Preserving her ancestral inheritance, she forges a bold humanitarian path into the future. Saha Gnawa reimagines Morocco’s revered Gnawa tradition, often called “Sufi Blues,” uniting the founders of Innov Gnawa with leading artists from New York City’s jazz and contemporary music scenes to create a sound in which traditional song forms dissolve into ecstatic dance grooves laced with subtle electronics. Together, these artists reveal tradition as a living force, a catalyst for bold steps into new creative dimensions.

Two visionary forces shaping the future of African diasporic music come together in two complementary sets for an evening that honors deep musical lineages while embracing a new global perspective. Sona Jobarteh, the first professional female kora virtuoso to emerge from a West African griot dynasty, carries this centuries-old tradition forward through luminous vocals and masterful musicianship. Preserving her ancestral inheritance, she forges a bold humanitarian path into the future. Saha Gnawa reimagines Morocco’s revered Gnawa tradition, often called “Sufi Blues,” uniting the founders of Innov Gnawa with leading artists from New York City’s jazz and contemporary music scenes to create a sound in which traditional song forms dissolve into ecstatic dance grooves laced with subtle electronics. Together, these artists reveal tradition as a living force, a catalyst for bold steps into new creative dimensions.