Born in 2007 into a distinguished griot family lineage, Sidiki Jobarteh began
his musical journey at the age of three, learning Calabash and absorbing
traditional repertoire through close participation in rehearsals with his
mother, renowned Kora virtuoso Sona Jobarteh. By the age of five, he had
begun studying Djimbe with Guinean and Ghanaian master drummers,
laying a strong foundation in West African percussion traditions.
Sidiki made his stage debut at just 4 years old in 2011, performing
alongside his mother and his grandfather, the respected griot Sanjally
Jobarteh, at Alliance Francais in The Gambia. A year later, at age 5, he
appeared at the Africa Festival in Germany, performing Djimbe. Over the
following years, he continued to perform extensively at around the world
with his mother, gaining invaluable experience on international stages.
In 2014, Sidiki joined The Gambia Academy, where at the age of 8 he took
up the Balafon—an instrument that would soon become central to his
musical identity. He made his debut as a Balafon player at the Africa
Festival in Germany in 2018 at age 11. Since then, the Balafon has
remained his principal instrument, studied intensively with elders from his
community in The Gambia, while he continued to develop his skills in percussion.
During Covid, Sidiki was homeschooled by his mother, using an innovative
instrumental and theoretical curriculum she had developed over more
than a decade of teaching at university level. During this period, and
through extended touring, he was further mentored by the highly seasoned
members of Sona Jobarteh’s band, deepening both his musicianship and professional understanding of life as a touring artist.
Sidiki later moved to the UK to attend The BRIT School, where he completed his GCSEs before returning to The Gambia to continue his studies at The Gambia Academy. There, his academic focus expanded to include postcolonial African history, music business, and production, alongside his continued musical development. During this time, he also took up guitar, and has studied Dundun intensively in the Guinean tradition, becoming a proficient player. He has featured alongside fellow Academy students in numerous government events, television and culturalprogrammes across The Gambia as both a Balafon and Dundun player. In 2025 Sidiki and 3 other students were invited to showcase the musical talent at the Academy to the President of The Gambia in a personal address at State House.
As a performer, Sidiki has toured increasingly extensively with his mother
and, in recent years, launched his first major collaborative project as a
member of the trio Gambiana, alongside his cousin from The Gambia and a
young musician from Ghana. The group quickly gained recognition for their
electrifying and youthful performances, presenting a bold, contemporary
sound rooted firmly in West African tradition. Gambiana was invited to
perform at major festivals including Shrewsbury Folk Festival, Shambala
Festival, Glasgow Celtic Connections, and the Barbican in London,
captivating large and diverse audiences.
Alongside performance, Sidiki has developed a strong interest in music
production and engineering, collaborating with fellow young artists in The
Gambia to record and shape projects that sit at the intersection of modern
and traditional African sound. He has recently completed his first music
video, and his debut single is scheduled for release in early 2026.
In parallel with his musical career, Sidiki earned a professional qualification in graphic design and now teaches graphics at The Gambia Academy, reflecting his broad creative skill set and commitment to education and community.
Now aged 18, Sidiki Jobarteh is preparing for his first solo performance, set
to take place in Glasgow as part of the Celtic Connections Festival—
marking a significant milestone in his artistic development.
Born into one of the most respected griot lineages in West Africa, Sidiki
represents a powerful new trajectory within a tradition that has historically
been passed exclusively through male paternal lines for over 700 years.
Inheriting his instrumental lineage directly from his mother rather than his
father, he stands at the forefront of a generational and cultural shift—
honouring the depth of his heritage while shaping its future through
innovation, collaboration, and a distinctly contemporary voice.