Dawda Jobarteh is a Gambian kora player and composer based in Denmark, and one of the most distinctive voices on the Scandinavian world music scene. The grandson of legendary griot Alhaji Bai Konte and son of Amadu Bansang Jobarteh, he paradoxically only took up the kora after settling in Denmark in 1999. He has since forged a sound that draws on Mandinka griot tradition while reaching into jazz, rock and electronic music, collaborating with Danish artists including Pierre Dørge and Stefan Pasborg.
Dawda Jobarteh performed at ALICE in Copenhagen as part of Vinterjazz 2026 in a new trio with Norwegian drummer and vocalist Siv Øyunn Kjenstad and pianist Nikolaj Svaneborg.
The live album 'Live in Turku' with Dawda Jobarteh and Stefan Pasborg was released on May 17, 2024 on April Records - recorded at a festival in Turku, Finland, in April 2023.
Dawda Jobarteh was nominated for the Songlines Music Awards 2023 in the Africa and Middle East category for the album 'Soaring Wild Lands'.
Fourth studio album 'Soaring Wild Lands' was released on January 28, 2022 on Sterns Music with Admeta String Quartet and reached 3rd place on World Music Chart Europe.
Kora musician Dawda Jobarteh meets the Admeta String Quartet in a specially lit concert blending West African songs with new compositions, part of the BIG BANG family festival.
Gambian musician Dawda Jobarteh performs traditional kora blended with jazz, rock and electronic effects at the family music festival BIG BANG.
Ayi Solomon and Dawda Jobarteh blend jazz, West African music, and Scandinavian elements in their New Era project.
