Tenterden Folk Festival 2004

Friday 1st to Sunday 3rd October

 

Jali Sherrifo Konteh

Kora player from The Gambia

 

Vic and Tina Smith from Sussex have been regular visitors to Tenterden Folk Festival over the last 12 years.  What is less well known is that they have also been frequent visitors to The Gambia where they met Jali Sherrifo Konteh.  Sherrifo is a member of one of the most highly regarded “griot” families in The Gambia. His father, Alhaji Bai Konte, was the first kora player to have an album recorded in Europe (Virgin 1973) and his half-brother, Dembo, has been a popular visiting musician in Europe for a number of years now. He has lived all his life in Brikama, in The Gambia, the home of many of the region’s finest musicians.

 

SheriffoVic and Tina are working hard to arrange Sherrifo’s first visit to England this autumn and we hope that he will be able to appear at Tenterden Folk Festival 2004.  This will be the first opportunity to hear his superb virtuoso skills as a kora player and his fine selection of tunes and songs. These are either from the tradition that he has been immersed in all his life or his own compositions within the structure of that tradition. He is an articulate, polite, friendly, kind and hugely talented young man and a charismatic performer who is bound to make a huge impression during his visit.

 

At Tenterden Folk Festival, Sherrifo will be performing in concert and holding a workshop demonstrating the nature of kora playing.

 

Do not forget that full weekend tickets are already on sale and admit holders to all events on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

COST: Before 1st Sept. £15.00 (under 16's £8.00). After 1st Sept. £18.00 (under 16's £10.00).

 

 

The latest details of the Festival and the full guest list will be posted on our web site at www.folkspots.btinternet.co.uk

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Join the mailing list by sending a s.a.e. to Tenterden Folk Festival (mailing list)

Alan Castle, Tenterden Folk Day Trust, 15 Repton Manor Road, Ashford, Kent, TN23 3HA

 

 

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Last updated 10th June 2004

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News and press release – 7th May 2004