By: Bakary Ceesay
Jalikebba Kuyateh, is a dynamic Afo-manding Kora musician, singer and composer from the Gambia. Born into a griot family, he started playing the Kora at the age of six under the guidance of his father and has been playing the Kora ever since. Kuyateh is a famous griot family name
For many years Jalikebba was the lead performer at the Tanji village museum and played with many groups in Africa until forming his own band, the sutura Band. Jalikebba and the Sutura Band perform throughout the Gambia and also Senegal at festivals, cultural events and tourist venues.
With his fusion of traditional and modern African music, Jalikebba brings the joyful, progressive sounds of his kora to the world. He tours Europe once a year, giving workshops and concerts as an ambassador of Gambia music.
He has released eight albums to date. Jalikebba is also a member of the famous kora kings, who started during the 1990s.
Jalikebba along with Tatadindin Jobateh, Pa Bobo Jobateh and Lamin Saho are known for bringing Afo-manding, a pop-oriented music derived from the traditional music of the ancient manding Empire, to worldwide audiences.