Sona Jobarteh

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.