BPCG is delighted to welcome world-renowned kora player Jali Bakary Konteh to our Spring Sessions. The latest torchbearer for his family’s kora legacy on the world stage, like his father and grandfather before him, Jali Bakary brings his own personal touch and innovations to traditional songs with unique melodic and rhythmic arrangements.
Jali Bakary is the grandson and son, respectively, of the legendary Gambian kora players Alhaji Bai Konte (who helped to bring kora music to the wider world with his iconic album Kora Melodies From the Republic of the Gambia, West Africa in 1973) and Dembo Konte. As Banning Eyre has put it, “it is difficult to overstate the regal, nearly divine, stature” of the Konte family in the echelons of West African music.
Born into this remarkable musical lineage and steeped in Gambia’s griot tradition, Jali Bakary is the latest torchbearer for his family’s kora legacy on the world stage. He has performed extensively throughout West and North Africa, as well as in the UK, the rest of Europe (WOMAD, Roskilde Festival, Kings Place, Barbican, Southbank Centre), Middle East and USA.
Although the kora tradition has changed a lot over the last half a century, it always moves forward. Like his father and grandfather before him, Jali Bakary brings his own personal touch and innovations to traditional songs with unique melodic and rhythmic arrangements.
A hugely versatile musician, he regularly performs solo, as well as with his own band, Minyanta, and Balimaya Project – a new 16 piece collective who fuse West-African folkloric music and jazz. Jali Bakary released his debut album, Konteh Kunda, in 2010 and his self-released album Jali Bakary Konteh available on many platforms in 2023. He currently lives in London.
‘An exceptional purveyor of the Gambian tradition’ Afropop Worldwide
‘it is difficult to overstate the regal, nearly divine, stature’ of the Konteh family in the echelons of West African music’ Banning Eyre
INFORMATION
Ticket Price:
£15 standard price
£12 concessions
Kids under 6 go free
Food:
£8 per person for a hot vegetarian meal
Timings:
6.00pm – Gates open
6.30pm – Music starts
7.15pm – Break
7.45pm – Music
8.30pm – Finish
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About the venue
The gig will take place inside the barn. The barn has step-free access and an accessible toilet. The gig will be seated.
Find our more about access here.
We put on our Gigs at the Greenhouses to let people hear brilliant music, enjoy our lovely gardens and to raise money so that the community can benefit from BPCG seven days a week.
Getting to us
BPCG is in the middle of Brockwell Park, between the tennis courts and the walled gardens. Follow the signs.
Exit from the Park should be via the Park’s Lido Gates on Dulwich Road. Please leave in groups and be sure to have a torch or use your phone torches. Walk left out of the greenhouses, left then right through the tennis courts and down the hill to the lido. Click here to see a map of the route
If you are driving to the gig, we recommend parking your car on Dulwich Road or near Dulwich Road.
Food & Drink
Delicious home-made hot food, botanical cocktails, local craft beer and organic wine will be on sale.
Book your food with your ticket to avoid disappointment.
Food will be vegetarian, but unfortunately we cannot cater for any other dietary requirements.