Konteh Kunda School of Music

Konteh Kunda School of Music A Music School in Brikama, The Gambia focused on teaching and preserving traditional Mandinka music and culture. I was blown away. It is a West African harp.

Konteh K***a is the family compound of the Konteh Family in Brikama, Gambia. They are a “Jali” family, which means they belong a the caste of Mandinka musicians/storytellers/historians/praise-singers/advisors, which can trace its history back 800 years to the glory days of Soundiata and the Mali Empire. Alhaji Bai Konteh, found here on Wikipedia, was the first Jali to introduce the Kora to America

n audiences with stateside performances and his acclaimed, “Kora Melodies From The Republic Of Gambia, West Africa,” released on Rounder Records in 1973. His son, Dembo Konteh continued in his footsteps and toured internationally with Kausu Kuyateh for many years. Dembo’s son and musical heir Jali Bakary Konteh, is the co-founder, with Steve Pile, of the Konteh K***a School of Music. The Story of the School, as told by Steve Pile:

While in London in 1999, I checked out an Ernest Ranglin show, expecting to hear his unique Jazz Reggae blend. Instead, he and his trio were joined by a 10-piece traditional Senegalese band. There was a slew of mysterious instruments playing intensely syncopated music on stage. A little detective work led me to Lucy Duran, West African music scholar at SOAS in London. She had a contact in Brikama, Gambia who was a Kora legend. The kora was one of the amazing instruments I’d heard on that stage. I made a few calls and was on plane south within the month to stay with Dembo Konteh. After a few introductory Kora lessons, Dembo turned me over to his son, Jali Bakary, and I became his first student. Jali and crew quickly became my close friends, and I experienced the exhilaration of a cross cultural musical friendship. My three week trip raced past, and I swore I’d be back soon. Seven years later, I finally made it back, armed with solar panels and a laptop. We recorded Jali’s debut album, Konteh K***a, which was released in 2010 on Akwaaba Records, followed by an EP of Remixes of the song “Combination.”

I was Jali’s first student, but certainly not his last. In fact, the universal spirit of musical adventure has led hundreds of people from all over the world to Jali’s home at Konteh K***a since our first lessons. It is a large compound, in various stages of disrepair. The poverty rate in Gambia is 58%, and you can see this reflected in the upkeep on the compound. However, Jali is always happy to give up his bed for a budding kora student from abroad, and his generosity has inspired me to give something back.

01/06/2024
Only a few tickets left! Come and see me play on 1st June. I hope to see you there
16/05/2024

Only a few tickets left! Come and see me play on 1st June. I hope to see you there

Excited to be playing at King's Place in London. Tickets now available. I hope to see you there.
15/05/2024

Excited to be playing at King's Place in London. Tickets now available. I hope to see you there.

06/03/2024
18/01/2024
03/09/2021

That was the biggest storm in living history

And the mango tree fell on kitchen of the school
18/07/2021

And the mango tree fell on kitchen of the school

Sadly, on Wednesday night in the big storm, the school was damaged in the high winds. Fortunately, none of the family we...
18/07/2021

Sadly, on Wednesday night in the big storm, the school was damaged in the high winds. Fortunately, none of the family were hurt. The estimated cost of the repairs is gb £3,000

Ladies and Gents.....WE ARE OFFICIALLY OPEN FOR BUSINESS! We are hoping for a busy tourist season this year in Gambia, a...
14/10/2015

Ladies and Gents.....WE ARE OFFICIALLY OPEN FOR BUSINESS!
We are hoping for a busy tourist season this year in Gambia, and have already booked 2 groups in the fall months who will stay in the comfortable rooms, enjoy local cooking and culture, and of course be immersed in the beautiful Mandinka music.
Contact us through FB or www.kontehkunda.org to set up your stay.

Hey Everyone! It's been a while! But there's been a lot going on!Check out the progress we've made with this virtual tou...
05/06/2015

Hey Everyone! It's been a while! But there's been a lot going on!
Check out the progress we've made with this virtual tour.
(sorry its a bit shaky;-))
https://youtu.be/xdHIN5xZ92Q

See (a somewhat shaky iPhone) Video tour of the (Almost) finished Konteh K***a School of Music. Remaining work includes a second coat of paint, along with or...

Ladies and Gents! We have a long way to go, and only a little bit of time to do it! Please help us reach our goal of $80...
30/11/2014

Ladies and Gents! We have a long way to go, and only a little bit of time to do it! Please help us reach our goal of $8000 by December 19th! Lot's of awesome gift ideas for your holiday shopping are available!
http://youtu.be/H9gMmhwfHeM

Help us finish the Konteh K***a School of Music in Gambia, West Africa. Thanks to generous donations, since 2012 we've raised $22,000. We are only about $8,0...

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Konteh K***a
Brikama

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