Jaliyaa Kumbengo

On Thursday 21 May 2026, The Cut hosts Jaliyaa Kumbengo, an evening of live music, participatory learning & cultural exchange rooted in West African griot tradition.Led by Gambian kora player & cultural practitioner Sefo Kanuteh, joined by acclaimed Gambian vocalist Binta Suso & The Meriya Band, the event creates a space for audiences to engage with music as both performance & shared practice.The programme includes:
a pop-up photographic exhibition exploring Sefos artistic journey & ancestral lineage
a participatory music workshop(5:30pm) offering: koras provided invitation to bring instruments or join through voice collective improvisation & accessible entry point for all levels
Those wishing to participate in the free workshop must reserve a ticket.
a live performance(7:30pm) featuringSefo Kanuteh & The Meriya Band with Binta Suso
This structure moves from context participation performance, allowing audiences to connect with griot tradition through multiple entry points.Jaliyaa Kumbengo signals a gathering, where music functions as memory, dialogue & community connection.Please note if you would like to participate in the free Workshop this will commence at 5:30pm; the main performance will start at 7:30pm.Tickets: 14 advance (+ booking fee) / 16 on the door
Photo courtesy of Vero LeopoldinoSupported using public funding by Arts Council England.Produced by Music Worldwide & Gandaia Arts.About the artists
Sefo Kanuteh is a UK-based Gambian griot, rooted in a multigenerational Mandinka lineage of kora and balafon players. His work bridges tradition and contemporary practice through performance, education & community-based programmes, with recent support from Arts Council England to expand access to culturally grounded artistic experiences across the UK.Binta Suso is a Gambian vocalist from a respected griot family lineage, known for her expressive voice and deep connection to Mandinka musical traditions. She has collaborated internationally within West African and contemporary fusion projects, performing alongside renowned kora artists connected to the Suso and Keita griot families. Her work contributes to preserving and sharing oral traditions through performance, storytelling & song.Meriya Band brings together a collective of musicians supporting Sefos sound, blending traditional West African instrumentation with contemporary arrangements to create a dynamic live experience.Links:
Sefo Kanuteh Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sefo.kanuteh/?hl=en
Sefo Kanuteh YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@seyfokora
Sefo Kanuteh Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sefokanutehkora
Binta Suso Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bintasuso/
Binta Suso Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bintasusomusic/