Afro Manding Folk Fusion
Diabarte, Konteh ,Conteh and Jahtoe blend cultural traditions, kora lines, bass movement and original songwriting into music from an earlier chapter of the wider Jahtoe and Konteh story.
Old band, living thread
Bafila brought together the voices, strings and friendship of Diabarte, Conteh and Jahtoe. The recordings remain a record of collaboration, original melody and the living strength of West African griot music.
Listen directly in the browser or download the original MP3 files. Existing filenames are preserved for the live site.
The Bonga fish plays a large role in Gambia's cultural history and a healthy diet. The song was inspired by that cultural importance and the pressure created by fish scarcity.
Read the article that inspired the song
An original song inspired by the dangerous land and sea journey from Gambia to Italy that Gambians call backway. The kora solos highlight Mafu Conteh's melodic strength.
A sweet song written and recorded in one studio jam session, capturing the direct feeling of musicians playing together in the moment.
An original song for the soldiers who protect others from harm. The guitar solos highlight why Amadu Diabarte is one of the great guitarists of the world.
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 asked Gambians to download the version of Bonga with no vocals and write lyrics expressing the importance of Bonga fish to their people and culture, and how reduced Bonga fish availability affects them.
The Bafila page works best when it presents the music as living culture rather than museum preservation.
Griots are West African musicians whose families have passed down music and history for so many generations that no one knows how many.
From childhood, griots spend their lives mastering music. They sing history, family events and memory into public life.
Only living musicians can carry a living tradition. A database can document culture, but it cannot replace the people who produce it.
The older Bafila recordings include musicians whose paths continue through later projects, including Konteh Jaliyaa Legacy.
Kora
Bass and guitar
Kora
Vocals, guitar, bass and production
All support goes directly to the artists, helping them continue creating and carrying the tradition forward.
The rainy season can be difficult for griots because tourists are not around and steady income becomes harder to find. Direct support helps the musicians continue their work.
For inquiries about Bafila, the recordings, or related Jahtoe music projects.