We have lyrics for these tracks by Sona Jobarteh:

Musow Ô, ô musow tiurulaaa Sadiô go musow nhaminaaa Umanô, Umanô, …
Reflections Ont-ils oublié leurs promesses? Au moindre rire, au moindre …
Saya Hmmmm, sooba saya... Fagantɔw lu kasikan, Ko bana ye saya f…

The lyrics can frequently be found in the comments below or by filtering for lyric videos.

Most interesting comment from YouTube:

Suzanne Lerner

4y↑7

One English translation I hope, please correct in comments!
NOTE: Sona Jobarteh, this amazing Singer & Musician, has a school for musically talented orphans and children whose parents can't afford to send their kids to school. She funded and started the project, which includes a complete heart-centered conscious education. Please give a donation here
http://www.sonajobarteh.com/abjschool.html
Your Money, even as little as $5 or $20 can go such a long way to support this Traditional Gambian Music School in Gambia. Please take just a few minutes and give some money today. I just did! What a miracle! : It's like planting a tree for future generations to enjoy the music you are enjoying now. Support live music & future generations of gifted musicians! (Scroll to the bottom of the page for the donation buttons) http://www.sonajobarteh.com/abjschool.html

(from: http://www.mandebala.net/references/jarabi.php)
Sacko, Fanta. 1972. Musique du Mali. Vol. 1. Fanta Sacko. Barenreiter Musicaphon, BM 30L 2551.

(Kankan Jarabi)

A song dedicated to the power of love and to its predominance over all other feelings. It teaches us that:

Every person
Is called upon to dedicate to another
A passionate love.
All illnesses
Can be treated by the doctors,
But love is an illness
Which doctors cannot cure.
Wait for me! Wait for me, my beloved one!
For I cannot live without you.
Surely you do not know my beloved one:
It is he who, for me,
Eclipses all others.
The old women do not know
Perhaps, the power of love;
The old men do not know,
Perhaps, the power of love;
For if they really knew it
They would have understood my passion,
They would have understood
That love is an incurable illness.
For love knows no father,
For love knows no mother,
For love knows neither brother nor sister;
Love is blind to all this,
Love is deaf to all this,
What counts alone is what you have said to me.
And never forget, my beloved one,
What you have promised me,
For treason is worse than all,
Especially in love.
remember...if you are touched by this music, consider supporting this Amazing musician's school in Gambia, created by her to raise a whole new generation of gifted singers & musicians.
>>Scroll to the bottom of the page to donate to Sona's School in Gambia, here:
http://www.sonajobarteh.com/abjschool.html

All comments from YouTube:

michael heron

1y↑140

The magic of the internet allows a jamaican living in canada to be transported back to the homeland by this beautiful music played by these talented musicians.

Philippe Van den Sande

I have seen a blue heron the morning... Now I know why.

Maree Walsh

3w↑1

Fa real!

James Xanthios

6w↑1

Wa gwan Michael from a fellow Canadian. This music transcends location, time, and race - it’s simply beautiful.
But why leave beautiful Jamaica for the frozen climate of Canada - Canada is too cold.

David King

6w↑1

And a Jamaican living in Jamaica experiencing the same. What a music sweet mi Idren!

Michael Michael

15w↑2

Love my Jamaica 🇯🇲 family from East Africa ❤️❤️❤️😭😭😭

2 More Replies...

Mac Randy Citeta

13w↑5

Une des seules choses que permet la musique : le sublime par l’harmonieuse symbiose de sons, sonorités et âmes qui les émettent.
Ce son est le seul qui me plonge ou me transporte dans un moment de connexion avec la transcendance.
Merci Sona 🙌🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾

Espérance LaFortune

37w↑42

After listening to this song, i decided to name my daughter "djarabi", word which actually means "beloved". Sona you are divine. Much love from Cameroon 🇨🇲❤️

Tamara D. Warner

34w↑39

I cannot find the words to describe how this beautiful music stirs something deep in my soul, like a soothing balm to my very bones. It is “heaven” and “home” rolled into one. May God continue to bless Sona Jobarteh, an honored griot, and the talented musicians who accompany her to create these sacred sounds that seem to transcend time and space.

Carmela Torrente Calo

16w↑1

💖true

Harambee Gardens

34w

Agreed.

Bárbara Almeida

2y↑118

One of the bests songs I've already heard. It touched all my body and soul. Greetings from Brazil ♥️

Robert Leter

Vc tem bom gosto amiga, abraços desde Suriname

Abcd Efjh

31w↑1

Same feeling from morocco 👍

Josue Mendonca

34w

TB estou encantado

Antonio Carlos Souza

48w↑2

@Young Ay Great!

Marcelo Filho

1y↑1

Realmente, sem palavras pra descrever.

1 More Replies...

Eric mugendi

2y↑44

Listening in 2020!
Being African is such a blessing. The diversity of our talents is such a wonder, i love sona and her music.
Much love from Kenya🇰🇪

Larissa Cancino

4y↑6

Maravilhosa ! Me levou em outra dimensão de paz e alegria !!!!!

Theta Pi

38w↑5

The Story behind the Malian love song "Jarabi".

Most Kora songs are very formal and connected with some piece of history and cultural root of Mende tradition; Jarabi is an exception. However, Jarabi (meaning "Beloved"), is among the most popular of Kora songs. Originally composed shortly after the independence of the Mali Federation -- now divided as Senegal, Gambia and Mali -- Jarabi was meant to capture the new national spirit of renaissance. The government supported a return to traditional arts and cultural expressions of the many people of the region. In this new environment, Jarabi was born, has become and remains the single most popular Kora piece to date. When the French were forced to leave they offered Mali the option of remaining a common wealth under the French system; the people, so vexed by the brutality of French occupation, wanted only complete independence. Infuriated, Charles Du Gaulle order the country stripped of everything. Buildings were destroyed and infrastructure was rent a sunder. The people found themselves with far less than what they had before colonization and have been recovering ever sense. Composed in this time, Jarabi is a love song which, like most African love songs from this period, is intended as a metaphor for the love of the country, it's culture, and it's people. During colonial times, such love songs would be infused with messages through metaphors meant to enjoin the beleaguered with hope and resolve. [From the webpage: https://hotcopper.com.au/threads/sona-jobarteh-jarabi-beloved-kora-music.4418597/]

josweet love

2y↑41

Listening From Trinidad and Tobago in the Caribbean. Beautiful music. Proud to be an African. This music is taking me back to my ancestral home. Love the Kora sounds so much better than a harp in fact no comparison.

Suzanne Lerner

4y↑473

Here's a beautiful description of one of the deeper meanings of this beautiful song from Mali;
this love song "Jarabi, from a FB post by Sarah le Kali on Wednesday, October 31, 2012...thanks Sarah!

JARABI

Most Kora songs are very formal and connected with some piece of history and cultural root of Mende tradition; Jarabi is an exception. However, Jarabi (meaning "Beloved"), is among the most popular of Kora songs. Originally composed shortly after the independence of the Mali Federation -- now divided as Senegal, Gambia and Mali -- Jarabi was meant to capture the new national spirit of renaissance. The government supported a return to traditional arts and cultural expressions of the many people of the region. In this new environment, Jarabi was born, has become and remains the single most popular Kora piece to date. When the French were forced to leave they offered Mali the option of remaining a common wealth under the French system; the people, so vexed by the brutality of French occupation, wanted only complete independence. Infuriated, Charles Du Gaulle order the country stripped of everything. Buildings were destroyed and infrastructure was rent a sunder. The people found themselves with far less than what they had before colonization and have been recovering ever sense. Composed in this time, Jarabi is a love song which, like most African love songs from this period, is intended as a metaphor for the love of the country, it's culture, and it's people. During colonial times, such love songs would be infused with messages through metaphors meant to enjoin the beleaguered with hope and resolve...
<3 <3 <3 Suzanne Improvisation Lerner

Olympe Rhode

25w

thank you ! :))

ߛߋߞߎߓߊ߬ ߛߌߛߋ߬ ߡߊ߲ߘߌ߲ ߡߐߙߌ߫

27w

Never knew the history of it, abaraka.

Laur-un

33w↑1

@asim sherzai what are u talking about Muslims enslaved africa first. they even enslaved northern Europeans 😂

minister J Benson

46w↑2

Thanks Immensely for this piece of insight .....

22 More Replies...

Krissy Ella

5w↑2

She is just SO talented, beautiful and soulful. An amazing amazing human and musician. I love seeing how well of a connection they have with their individual instruments and with each other as a group

marblewater

6w↑2

my band director played this for us last year and i've been coming back to it since. such a gorgeous piece

Jo. Garcia

2y↑72

I'm from another continent, speaking other language but this music touched my heart.

Harambee Gardens

34w

Like magic.

Matice

2y↑23

This sent shivers deep in my soul and brought tears to my eyes. We need more music like this, pure energy and genuineness. Hats off

Canal de mensagens espíritas

18w↑1

Eu adoro essa música. Eu a conheci em 2017 e ouço todos os dias. Parabéns aos cantores! :)

Oyugi Raskin

3y↑88

😭😭 This is the type of music that should be played in our radios.... true African music😍😍😍

Kal2019

5y↑383

Sick and jealous people giving thumbs down bec they can never be successful at anything in this world. Everything about this woman is heavenly beautiful.

Maranatha Jesus

1y↑1

I know write!!!! I was about to comment about it. She's so amazing and beautiful!!💚

Cabora Bassa

1y↑1

People have the right to like and dislike whatever they feel like. Maturity is understanding and accepting that without taking things personally and insulting people. No one is obliged to have the same tastes you do.

Beth Bartlett

1y↑1

Know it is themselves they are putting down.
Insecure and Adolescent Emotional Development.

It's a trait that is associated with the NPD, Narcissistic.
(My field is Sociology, I understand Social Behavior and AntiSocial Behavior)

Best Wellbeing ...

Tito Njuguna

1y↑1

This is music played not for critics but for people whom overstand why, how & when it's played!!!

Lavender Don Roses

Preach

13 More Replies...

El Kiws

2y↑134

I'm a dominican that fills 100% african and I'm more convinced of my roots after listening to this beatiful music

Mariama Ba

47w

Merci beaucoup
Gracias

Addi Teacha

1y↑1

You don't have a bad heart, but I dare you go to Haiti and speak to Dominicans living there, be there yourself and you will see the lie. Dominicans are not targeted at all, they are even ignored to go about their lives. Go to Haiti and see for yourself

Addi Teacha

1y↑1

Those instruments would fit well with merengue..

11 More Replies...

Nina Ingemann

2y↑32

❣️Love from Denmark (Scandinavia) Heavenly song 🎶

Aurea Oliveira

2y↑2

Ela tem uma voz encantadora vai muito bem nos instrumentos sou muito sua fã você é demais sou brasileira demais adoro suas músicas e os seus instrumentos beijo querida

Carlinhos Paixão

Também gostei demais. Lindo lindo.

Bren Mboya

1y↑34

This song makes me proud to be African

Edmilson Graça

3y↑3

Não tem explicação possível essa cançao entra e bate bem no fundo do peito.

Alejandro Antonio López Díaz

40w↑2

Nice and beautiful music from our Africa, our regards from Venezuela!

Marena Serfati

2y↑38

This is so beautiful in many ways. 💜
God bless africa.

GEOFF H

2y↑1

It's a thing of beauty, people at their best.

Tebogo Mothiba

3y↑91

10 seconds in; and I was already in heaven. Greetings and love from South Africa

Harambee Gardens

34w

Great music.

Asma Elon

Me encanta tu voz y tu música ❤️

Marietou Sambou

1y↑12

Qui écoute ça en 2021 !!!Que ça me fait du bien d’écouter cet chanson mandingue .... que de douceur et grâce ça m’apaise énormément merci 🙏❤️❤️❤️

Gladys Delmas

37w

Superbe voix super sont ça me transporte !! Malheureusement je ne comprends pas les paroles . Pouvez vous me dire ce qu elle chante ? 🤗

Stuart Morrissey

2y↑27

After listening to death metal all my life this tune is like a breath of fresh air

Omair Sheikh

39w↑1

Check out her song Gambia, beautiful melodies

White Sbujwa

51w↑1

Good good

Linda Nichols

2y↑26

My God I love this woman and her heavenly music😇

Sam Chipwanyanemapfupa

2y↑1

I began following her after i discovered her song titled Gambia. She has a heavenly voice and beauty too :)

IBRAHIM SAMASSI

52w↑1

Quelle merveille!En écoutant cette chanson,on voit, on sent❤️l' Amour..quel talent! merci a la BBC d avoir capturé cet instant et YouTube peut être fière!!!

Turki Al-Eisa

3y↑23

Greetings from the Saudi Arabia. This piece of heaven is what drives me to explore all the beauty our world can offer. Bless you Sona Jobarteh and the rest of this amazing trio.

Michael Brand

7w↑1

Beautiful music! I lived & worked in Senegal, West Africa, for a year, and I fell in love with kora music.

Umid Tarlanli

1y↑4

In love with this song, lots of love from Azerbaijan 🇦🇿 for Africa

Cosmo Knipscheer

6y↑1.3K

The drummer is from Ghana and the guitarist is from Nigeria. Sona from Gambia. Nice this african trio. Love to and from africa!

Ruben Um Nyobe

34w

🤞🏽👍🏽👌🏾🙌🏽🙏🏾

Moses M

51w

@Fatimaxn Barry Did you forget the Ivory Coast( Djoula), the president Alhasan Ouattara’s traditional mother tongue, Burkina Faso and even part of Liberia? These people precede Wolof etc..(Wolof is believed to be part of “back -to-Africa) group of people but Mandingo is quite ancient. They together with Wadabe, Touareg etc..occupied up to Northwest Africa ten thousands of years ago!

Luiza Pinheiro

Lindíssima

Dominic Amoako Baah

Am beginning to see similarities in West African Cultures and music. Mande, Dogon and Akans share a lot

Sandrine Arpal

Traduction

35 More Replies...

Ray Farrah

3y↑73

I am Somali and I just found this beoutifull African Queen with her amazing voice and amazing music. I can't stop listening to her .

streetlawz

2y↑27

I never seen a woman beautiful like you sona, you are the full definition of beauty, your voice is so sharp, your eyes so Cleared and talent is incomparable

Amel A

29w↑2

So mystical ❤❤😍it gives me goose bumps 😍

Les jardiniers de la Nouvelle Terre

4y↑21

Vibrant soul ! J'ai eu l'immense privilège de rencontrer Sona au Festival "Les tambours de Gaïa" en Ariège en juin dernier , quelle personne magnifique ! Longue vie à toi Sona , et merci !

Chandra Naraine

7y↑465

This is what the word "groove" was coined to represent in music....that magic moment when everything is in total sync.....synergy.....This is the magic about African music, which is always there and only sometimes in other forms of music. As a multicultural ethnic percussionist, I have come to understand that this fundamental element, the groove, is the essence of African music, because it IS in every instrument, including the voice. I'm gonna go out on a limb to say, for me personally, there is nothing quite equal to the "groove" in African music.

Laur-un

33w

wtf are you waffling on about

Denver Ndiaye

3y↑1

Srmnrgal

entiretinofsweetcorn

3y↑1

By that token it's always going to be somewhat repetitive and trance like, but if the music is made only to dance to I suppose that doesn't matter

Michael Mwai

3y↑1

Chandra Naraine well said Chandra

20 More Replies...

jean-raynauld Le Duc

2y↑1

Quel rythme j’adore que de la bonne Vibration...merci ☮️

stephen Boateng

19w↑2

Africa the origin of 🎶 music. Love from Ghana 🇬🇭

Rab Abr

3y↑1

Hermosa música africana saludos desde Sonora mexico👍

Balacajon Lars Pistorius

8w↑1

Thank you so much soul sister Sona and thank you also to the wonderful empathic musicians. You play with so much feeling and heart and transport peace into this world. From heart to heart musical greetings and thank you Sona for your gift 🙏💫

gabriela peralta soto

1y↑1

Maravilloso fabuloso increíble los señores de la música Muchas gracias increíble

Douka Kah

2y↑2

I love africa music- ❤❤❤

Anésio Teca

2y↑26

Queen Sona Jobarteh I am proud of you...
Much love from Angola... 🇦🇴🇦🇴🇦🇴🇦🇴🇦🇴🇦🇴🇦🇴🇦🇴🇦🇴🇦🇴🇦🇴🇦🇴

Jarri Sylla

1y↑2

🇬🇲❤🇦🇴🤝

Gregory Dean

2y↑10

The musical mathematical algorithmic dimensions of the performance are other-worldly. Thank you Sona . . . an angel placed on earth in paradise Motherland . . .beckons memories of being taken in the Middle Passage and orphaned in the Americas.

Luiz Alberto De Filippo

19w

Maravilhoso!!!!

JULY SPELONCHI

1y↑4

Lovely...... extremely interested and moving .I love African music.Love from Italy

สนั่น ราชวัตร

13w

Maravilhoso!!!

Omo Yibs

2y↑10

OMG!! I have had this song on replay for like forever. So soothing. Truly African but yet Universal. And to see the artists enjoying the song just as much as I am, the smiles on their faces, PRICELESS! Pure RYTHM. The base from that calabash, made me buy new headphones just so I can hear it in its purest form. I definitely would love to hear this LIVE. Well done Sona and dear brothers.

Herman Papillon

5y↑685

My skin is as white as the milk of the cows my country is famous for. But my soul knows all the colours of the world. I just love this!

Laur-un

33w

@Chris Gordon take ur meds

Laur-un

33w

wtf does this mean.

Denis Naidoo

1y↑1

Oh! So sweet and serene and melodious. Penetrates the very core of my whole being.CHEERS for all times Denis Naidoo south Africa.

AAron007

Music is for everyone!

37 More Replies...

John Mark

15w

Timeless relaxing music that soothes all the worldly tribulations away. Thank you Sona.

The Stereo Kid

2y↑9

magical! I am new to the music of the kora- it is so beautiful, I must listen more! I yearn for it deeply :) blessed day all

Kelinia Johnson

2y↑2

This is so beautiful. I'm in tears right now

Muninta

2y↑13

Next level Seriously: to say farewell to traditional male-positions is breaking up with history. So much harmony and peace to go on with this music❣️

Theodore Andrews

4y↑1

Queen Sona is divine. Thank you for sharing your talent with us!

Roberto Monteiro

2y↑1

Adorei esse som! Cantora e mûsicos fantásticos!

Bila bila

3y↑3

Love &peace from Morocco this is powerfull!!

David Moore

3y↑3

AFRICA to the World! Love from Nigeria😘

eamon dash

2y↑11

God Bless AFRICA!!!

gabriela peralta soto

1y↑2

Esta mujer Es maravillosa realmente la felicito mi mi nieto de 7 meses baila y escucha esta música el sonido de los tambores en maravilloso Felicidades para todos los que hacen música

bikram singh

4y↑2

Beautiful beautiful...awesome lovely music....love you guys
Though I don’t understand words but can feel soul in it 😘

Fernando Flores

Tres grandes talentos! Bellísima música!

Carlinhos Paixão

Isso é muito lindo. Gostei demais! Parabéns!

Игорь Ганцов

3y↑1

замечательно! великолепно!

Yolanda Hall

3y↑4

How am I just discovering this amazing artist. I'm adding her to my playlists as we speak. Loved this and Gambia. Any other artists i am missing out on. Please reply below. MACHEL AND calypso rose are LIFE.😍

Yvette LF

Hey ! If you liked this you sould check Toumani Diabate's album featuring Ry Cooder (my favourite one is Diaraby, full of love, all my childhood !)
And I don't know what you want to discover but maybe you'll like some 70's African songs
- Dissa na m'bera & Petit Sekou from Super Mama Djombo
- Yarabi from Bembeya Jazz National

Hope you will enjoy and you must definitely listen to Diaraby 😁

Voyo Nick

4y↑2

Sona, I am ashamed that I have only reached your songs now. You are great ambassador of culture! I was in your country a few years ago, but frankly speaking but no one made me realize that there is such a pearl of music like you! Thank you so much for such wonderful performance. Warm greetings from Poland! I'm your big fan!

Maitreya Noot

1y↑1

Thank you. You opened the doors of heaven. Absolutely beautiful.

José Dimas lopes de azevedo

3y↑1

Maravilhosos !!!

Tarbaal

Estupendo !!!

edmund

2y↑5

This music speaks to my soul. I hear the stories of my African ancestors. Beautiful!

Andrzej Fiałkowski

1y↑3

Absolutely breathtaking. I come from a distant country, but these sounds wake something deep in my soul. I suppose beautiful music doesn't care much about geography...

Tussy godana

3w↑1

The beauty and composer in the lyrics.

Master piece love from kenya.

Mark Easton

2y↑6

Wow, I’m discovering that so much amazing music exists in the world, thank you so much for your music!
Love from Australia

Lidia Edith Ueltschi

3y↑1

Sona canta con sentimiento profundo, que lindo poema para el alma, no comprendo pero siento su mensaje

Dominique Lacroix

2y↑3

Magnifique découverte pour moi aujourdhui ❤! J'adore! Une magnifique voix et un très bon groupe avec instruments tous aussi bon les un que les autre. Quelle beauté!!! 😍👍✌

Aria Elan

3y↑3

I LOVE Sona, the first female kora player I ever heard. When I traveled to her home country Gambia, I enjoyed incredibly beautiful kora music for the first time. One Love to these talented African musicians...

MIss Ma

3y↑6

Thanks 😍 I am so grateful You guys are on earth in these hard Times.

Suzanne Lerner

4y↑7

João Barbosa

4y↑4

Pure magic! Timeless Mandigo song! So happy that she broke with tradition and is one of the first mandigo women to play the Kora,,, Thank you Sona

Paul Tikiba

6y↑154

she is a true testimony to African musical heritage

Lenard Barzey

They as in them not just her... Power of music brings People together... Ase' uhuru mubuntu

UBUNTU MIKE

4y↑1

M Hy if she didn't who would fill that gap

Sahelian Pirate

4y↑3

M Hy Don't insult my gambian manding sister. She's plays Manding music she is one of us. We have many griots (singer/Kora players) she is one of them. Stop trolling

Diego Emanuel

4y↑52

Thats a pure definition of African finest and identicality of Music .

All the way from Angola

Inès Yh

3y↑3

Everything in this song is beautiful, i had chills during the entire video

Luís Filipe

51w↑1

Frome Portugal som sagrado!! 🇵🇹👍

Safa Sophie

I'm from Algeria and this is just amazing ❤❤❤❤

Gabriel Adriano Chimuende

2y↑3

Sou de Angola, todavia admiro muito o estílo musical e o grande talento da Sona, Força!💪👏👏👏

Juvenal Da silva

Somos dois

Cicero's

19w

Jarabi is one of those timeless African songs, hauntingly beautiful

bassamba sao

3y↑6

I love this , I love my people . We are so proud of you sister and your musical junction with all Africa Great sons and daughters . keep shining ... we are feeling your warmth all around the globe .

Aurea Oliveira

Magnífica adoro esta cantora toca muito bem ela é demais

Dianette The High Priestess

2y↑7

Yeah this song will be on repeat for the rest of my life on this earth.

Hasita Manaswini

I love sona! She is the best I've heard in african music. May you keep spreading love through your music. Jarabi is so close to my heart now❤️

Abderrahman

40w↑2

Soul music forever. I can feel the good vibrations.

ZONA PROXY

29w

SAUDAÇÕES DO BRASIL 🇧🇷 <3

Younes Hamdaoui

5y↑176

Thumbs up from Morocco 🇲🇦, beautiful music 🎶. Love u mama Africa 😄

Eso Katli

God bless you

Vladimir Minar

4y↑3

Amazing, I have discovered magic African music I will never forget this moment thanks you Sona

Andrea C.

1y↑1

This song and Sona playing the kora and singing just gives me chills and also warm feelings all over. So happy to have come across this. Love from Vancouver, BC, Canada 🇨🇦

badnews

4y↑3

Really love the music of Sona Jobarteh and her band - such a wonderful voice and such a soft mix and layering of instruments of a wide variety both older indigenous and modern alike - Love to see her play live in Gambia, Africa's tiniest nation -