Diabarte, Conteh and Jahtoe blend cultural traditions to make beautiful music. Scroll to listen to three songs.
So they can bring you more great music in the future. All proceeds go directly to the artists.
The rainy season is very difficult for griots as the tourists are not around nor any steady income making it very difficult to survive.
The Bonga fish plays a large role in Gambia's cultural history and a healthy diet.
The following article highlights the importance of Bonga fish, it's nutrional benefits, issues surrounding fish scarcity resulting from Chinese fish meal factories and provides insight into the songs inspiration.
Bonga fish was not long ago a key nutritional staple for the Gambian people
Vocals/Guitar: Greig Jahtoe
Bass: Amadu Diabarte
Kora: Jali Bakary Conteh
Year: 2021
The Bonga song could be better with lyrics written in a West African language. The English lyrics convey a message important to the author Greig Jahtoe, yet they lack a beautiful melody to accompany the music.
Bafila is asking Gambians to download the version of the Bonga song with no vocals below and write your own lyrics, expressing your feelings about the importance of Bonga fish to your people and culture and how the reduction of Bonga fish on the market impacts your people.
To enter to win the 10,000 Dalasi prize do the following:
10,000 Dalasi Bonga Song Lyrics Contest
Bafila will select a winner by November 1rst 2021 and record the vocals with your local language lyrics based on a combination of the best lyrics and melody.
Bafila may optionally select a vocalist from one of the videos to sing and record the winning lyrics, if someone stands out as having great singing abilities in exchange for a negotiated payment.
If you have any questions, kindly post your question in a comment on the LinkedIn Article.
Good Luck and thank you for your interest!Griots are West-African musicians who have grown up in families that have passed down a musical tradition for so many generations that no one knows how many. From the age of four they spend their whole lives mastering music.
An original song inspired by the dangerous land and sea journey from Gambia to Italy that Gambians call 'backway'.
Kora solos that highlight why Mafu Conteh is one of the best Kora players in the world
Vocals/Guitar: Greig Jahtoe
Bass: Amadu Diabarte
Kora: Mafu Conteh
Year: 2018
Help share the music with the world.
A sweet song written and recorded in one jam session captured in studio.
Vocals: Greig Jahtoe
Bass: Amadu Diabarte
Kora: Mafu Conteh
Year: 2018
An original song for all the soldiers who protect us from harm.
Guitar solos that highlight why Amadu Diabarte is one of the great guitarists of the world
Vocals/Bass: Greig Jahtoe
Guitar: Amadu Diabarte
Kora: Jali Bakary Conteh
Year: 2018
Griots play a vital role in West-African culture. They sing about the history of West-African and they memorize and sing about important historical family events. The griot families pass on the musical tradition and history from generation to the next generation for so many generations no one knows how many. They serve as a Musical Library of society. It's a tradition that has no comparison.
Jali Bakary Conteh
Despite their incredible talent the griots struggle to make ends meet and bring you this beautiful music.
Amadu Diabarte
Some who come to Gambia wishing to record griots in order to make a database of the songs suggest that they are preserving the culture. However, only way to preserve such a culture is to ensure that those living and producing the culture can afford to carry on the tradition. Griots spend their whole lives, from the time they are children, learning to master the kora and other instruments from their elders. You cannot preserve that tradition, that culture in a database.
Mafu Conteh
The griots dream of owning their own land and home and being able to support their families effectively.
Contact Greig Jahtoe for inquiries greig.jahtoe@gmail.com
Greig Jahtoe
Greig was given the name Jahtoe or 'Lion' in Mandinka by Gambian friends.