To close this edition, two major female figures in West African music will be celebrated at the Chapiteau. Gambian kora player Sona Jobarteh will open the evening before the stage is handed over to the Malian guitarist and singer. Singing in her mother tongue, Bambara, Fatoumata Diawara recounts Africa through her own experiences. From suffering to rediscovered joy, her lyrics confront crucial issues, transforming them into a universal message of hope, brought to life through a voice that radiates love and resilience. Her energetic, unifying performance closed the 2018 edition with French singer -M- as a special guest, leaving the audience enthralled. There is every reason to celebrate the return of this remarkable and sincere artist, who is sure to lift the entire audience in euphoric joy.

At the 40th edition, Sona Jobarteh’s infectious energy lit up the Chapiteau, and the Festival was quick to invite her back for this year’s edition! A vocalist and kora player of Gambian origin based in London, she is one of the few female musicians to master this West African instrument, continuing the griot tradition—the guardians of oral heritage. Her compositions honor Mandinka sounds while exploring their full potential through experimentation. With her inspiring approach, this internationally renowned virtuoso gracefully reshapes the music she has inherited, giving it dazzling, contemporary forms.