Early Years
Musa filly Jobarteh is a celebrated young artist and percussionist in the Gambia. His reputation began at a young age when he gained his recognition as being the youngest prodigy drummer in the country.
Musa born in Brikama, the Gambia in November 2000 into a renowned Griot family. His father Ebrima Jobarteh was Gambia's leading Djembe exporter, as well as a musician and promoter. Musa began to play the Djembe at the age of three, and by the age of 5 he gave his first performance alongside his father at World Music Day which took place at Alliance Franco in the Gambia. Musa has also studied the Mandinka traditional drum called the Serubaa, as well as the Senegalese Sabar and Jola Bokarabo. Musa was the lead Djembe player in his father's band Kambeng Band, which performs regularly across the Gambia, as well as performing with numerous other local bands.
Growth
In 2009 Musa took part in the sub-regional youth music Festival and by the age of 7 he was invited to play with one of the most renowned Senegalese Bugurabu (drum) players Bakary Olay. In 2010 Musa travelled with his father to Mali where he performed with the internationally celebrated kora maestro Toumani Diabate and his ensemble. Whilst there he also made his first recording with Toumani's son Sidiki Diabaté entitled Saliya on YouTube. This single went on to be sampled and played on Gambia's National TV GRTS.
In 2012 Musa performed with the renowned Guinean singer Sekouba Bambino and also featured on the album of leading Gambian-born singer Kumba Kouyateh and in the same year completed and launched his debut album entitled Allah Tentou which features Djembe, Kora Doundoun, and Balafon. In 2013 Musa won The Gambia's Got Talent competition, which was aired on national TV. He later went onto claim the runner up prize in the Rising Star Africa competition in 2017.
Musa has collaborated with his renowned cousin Sona Jobarteh, travelling to perform with her in Switzerland and Malta in 2017. In 2019 he was invited as a feature artist in Sona Jobarteh’s project hosted by the PRS Foundation at the South Bank Centre in London that was aired on BBC Radio 3.
As a teacher, Musa has worked at the Marina International School, The Gambia French school and was invited by Gambia's largest drinks company Youki to tour schools in the Urban areas of the Gambia as a drum mentor. Musa currently works at The Gambia Academy where he teaches Djimbe to Gambian students as well as running Djimbe courses for international students.
Musa also recorded his first single called EKAKU which was produced by SYLIZZ record, and many other songs later in 2018 musa shoot a video for his song called NKANUNYU. Musa recently released his trending song called WAKILO which was also released on YouTube