Jally Kebba Susso is a UK-based Gambian Kora player and composer.
In West African culture, the kora is the traditional harp of the griot. The griot plays a key part by bringing together the skills of a historian, musician, storyteller and diplomat to steer the community and its leadership to a better future. You can only be born a griot, inheritance being the only path. And Jally Kebba plays from a background of 74 generations of musical heritage.
Raised in a household of musicians, Jally Kebba was exposed to incredible musicianship from a very early age. He learnt to play under the guidance of his father the late Bully Suso, a very well-respected kora player and his elder brothers. By 13 he was touring internationally across West Africa, Belgium, Holland and UK. This early exposure and inherent ambition led Jally to his mission:
After settling to London in 2002, Jally’s musical horizons widened. He started arranging music combining jazz, rock, blues and Afro-funk. He formed his band Manding Sabu – the essence of Manding – in 2007.
He honed his own sound over years of experimentation on the London underground and has released two albums of original compositions – Banjul-London (2017) and Malaye Warr (2012).