“Gambia,” by Sona Jobarteh … (West African Acoustic – Music to Your Ears–6)

Let's come together and be united, for that's the way forward.

Sona Jobarteh – “Gambia”

“Gambia” (2015)

This smooth, rhythmic song, by the UK / Gambian musician Sona Jobarteh, commemorated 50 years of Gambian independence in 2015. 

Celebration of Life 

Both the lyrics and the video celebrate much more than political independence.

Instead, it’s a celebration of the daily lives of the Gambian people. People working, playing, dancing, enjoying the beauty of the land, or making traditional arts and crafts. Y’know, the kind of things worth celebrating. 

Sona Jobarteh 

Sona Jobarteh was born in London, into one of the main West African “griot”  families ­­– musicians and storytellers who passed on the oral traditions of the locals. As well as singing, she plays the guitar, the cello, and the “kora,”  a 21-string West-African harp. 

A Child at Play, an Artist at Work

Sona started playing the kora when she was just 3 years old, and gave her first performance when she was 4, at the Jazz Café in London. She has toured the world and worked with a wide variety of musicians, from the UK, from Gambia, and from far beyond.    _{(Image source)}

Peace knows stability and progress welcomes it

Hospitality, happiness feel the faces of the country
The Gambia is a good country
Wherever you are, never let yourself forget
Your homeland Gambia
Truth is, if you forget your homeland
It means you forgot yourself

We are proud, I am proud of my country ...
We are proud ...

Let's come together and be united for
That's the way forward and benefit for all

Where are the people of the world? This is a beautiful country
Where are the people of the world? This is a peaceful country
Where are the people of the Gambia? This is my country
Where are the people of the Gambia? This is hard to find!

It is blessed, that is why people respect her
It's honored, that is why people should not forget
This beautiful country
Citizens of the country, let's come, join together!
Honestly, I do not regret being a citizen of this country at all
When I travel the world, I'll tell the beauty of this country
There is no place like the Gambia

Where are the people of the Gambia? This is a beautiful country.
Where are the people of Gambia? This peaceful country
This is our country, where are the people of Gambia?
This is hard to find!     [4 x]

It is Gambia! It is Gambia I am singing about!    [4 x]
       _{[Translation from original Mandinka lyrics]    (Image source)}
Lyrics by Sona Jobarteh, courtesy of – Genius.com
Reference – Wikipedia

Into your ears … through 5 channels

 The various posts are categorized into 5 channels _{(Right-Click to see details)}
         1 – “Music to Your Ears” (MTYE)
         2 – “Cover Versions”
         3 – “Honor Roll”
         4 – “Documentaries”
         5 – “Mock’n’Roll”

Links to my other series ...

          Lou Reed – "Anthology of Memorable Lyrics, Part 1"
          Lou Reed – "Anthology of Memorable Lyrics, Part 2"

          Great Lyrics, a compilation – “Part One – My Lyrics Posts 3~30”
          Great Lyrics, a compilation – “Part Two – My Lyrics Posts 31~60”  

          Vocab-Ability – "Introduction to Vocab-Ability"  
          Vocab-Ability – "Index"  to all Chapters and Sections  

          Notes from Under the Tatami Mats – "Part One – Notes 1~50"  
          Notes from Under the Tatami Mats – "Part Two – Notes 51~87"