Verse 1

Jola Kelefa, Badora Jola Ialah
(The Jola Kelefa from Badora died)

Kelefa a la Tambo be Barria
(He left his spear in Barria)

Mingdolo Banta, Mingdolo Banta
(Roughly translated: His drinking days are done)

Kelefa Ba La Mingdolo Banta
(The great Kelefa, his drinking days are done)

Verse 2 and Interlude

Sou ole be dongna, sou ole be dongna
Jang fa tinyata, Sou ole be dongna
(The horses are dancing, the trick has failed)

Sada te Julu ba moi la
Satou Sada te Juluba moila
(If you are the useless person in town, the jalis won’t sing for you)

Jali is the name of the West African Griot, or kora player, who recorded histories like this through song.

Hear Bakary Jobarteh sing “Kelefa Ba”

Virtuoso Kora Player and Praise Singer (a Griot), Jali Fily hails from Ziguinchor in the beautiful lush region of Casmance, Southern Senegal.

Fily is a Mandinkan Griot. The Mandinka, a social group of approximately 4 million, live in and around Senegal, Mali and the Gambia. The Griots are professional hereditary musicians who once advised and entertained the emperors and Kings of Mali.

These oral historians have for over 4,000 years handed down the knowledge, culture and history of the Mande people. Griots are seen as spiritual people. Griot, meaning blood (djeli), being the blood that runs through the corporeal body – the essential omniscient part of life – were thought to be all seeing and all knowing in the eyes of society.

When you ask Fily how he became such an exponent of his music he replies “It’s in my blood.” Fily was born into the famous family of Griots – CISSOKHO – and was taught to play the KORA (a 21 string African Harp) at the age of 6 by his father Jali Kemo CISSOKHO and later by his older brother Solo CISSOKHO. His mother, singer Bintou Konte CISSOKHO, gave him the historical stories and songs. Soon after he performed at local ceremonies in the region. At the age of 13 he formed his own group COUTE DIOMBOULO and later performed as a solo artist throughout Southern Senegal. His compositions and skilful mixing of the rhythms of South and North Senegal took him to the capital DAKAR where he sang and played the KORA in a more commercial setting with other groups, superbly blending traditional skills with modern sounds.

He was first invited to Europe in 2002, to tour with the family group JALIKUNDA (founded by his brother Solo CISSOKHO, winner of the BBC3 World Music Award 2004). Recent UK appearances have included the WOMAD, Glastonbury and Larmer Tree Festivals. Solo performances include The Oxford Zodiac (supporting the Kathryn Tickell Band), The Oxford Water Festival (“His music moved people to tears”) and Modern Art Oxford. He also performed on David Attenborough’s BBC TV Documentary “Elephants” (music by Will Gregory of Goldfrapp fame).

Now resident in the UK he has been working with the support of Oxford Contemporary Music, Oxford Brookes University, Right Angle Productions (Oxford Experimental Digital Music Workshops) and others. Jali Fily is experienced in one to one, hands on tuition and also group workshops for schools, universities and festivals. His sympathetic and adaptable approach provides empathy with all age groups ranging from pre-school to adult. He is available as a solo artist but also interested in working with other world musicians. His versatility enables him to deliver not only his traditional music but to fuse easily with classical, afro, cuban, blues and jazz.

Fili is currently completing his second CD “Doumadjioulo” with a number of other Senegalese musicians.

His acclaimed first solo album is available from Kaira-Arts (sales).

“My aim,” he says, “Is to bring KAIRA (peace) to all through my music.”