Jally Kebba Susso is a UK based Gambian kora player and composer. Raised in a household of musicians, Jally Kebba was exposed to incredible musicianship from a very early age and plays from a background of 74 generations of musical heritage. By 13 he was touring internationally across West Africa, Belgium, Holland and UK. This early exposure and inherent ambition led Jally to his mission: to expand the boundaries of the griot tradition whilst keeping its heart and soul intact.
After settling to London in 2002, Jally’s musical horizons widened where he started arranging music – combining jazz, rock, blues and Afro-funk. He formed his band Manding Sabu – the essence of Manding – in 2007, and has since released two albums of original compositions – Banjul-London (2017) and Malaye Warr (2012) and gigged extensively at festivals such as at Wilderness, Shambala and Secret Garden Party.
Forging a new trajectory of sound for the West African harp, Jally Kebba skillfully blends the traditional repertoire into his own heady jazz concoction that is immediately accessible and uplifting and yet filled with nuances and intoxicating rhythmical layers that give the music depth and intrigue. His songs, sung in Mandinka, call for unity and togetherness. They are songs of praise and love and are a timely call for togetherness and solidarity, palpable to all language speakers.
