Sona Jobarteh crowned in San Jose: the kora receives the Silicon Valley African Film Festival's highest honour
On October 11, the Gambian kora master received the 2026 Cultural Icon Award from the Silicon Valley African Film Festival — the highest distinction of the Californian event, one it does not hand out every year. An award for her music, and for the school she founded in The Gambia.
It is the Silicon Valley African Film Festival's highest distinction, and it is not given every year. On Sunday, October 11, 2026, as the festival's 17th edition drew to a close at the Historic Hoover Theatre in San Jose, California, the Cultural Icon Award was presented to Sona Jobarteh, the Gambian kora master.
"It feels strange being here without her"
The day before, on the red carpet, the artist had confided, in a video posted on her page, her kora in hand: "It feels strange being here without her." A few hours later, the griots' instrument had made a little more history: heir to a great griot lineage, Sona Jobarteh is the first woman to become a professional kora player.
An award for the music — and for the school
The award honours the artist, but not only her: it also salutes the Gambia Academy, the African-centred school Sona Jobarteh founded in The Gambia. The festival's founder, Chike C. Nwoffiah, says it himself: it is the SVAFF's highest award, and it is not given every year. In 2024, the distinction crowned Malian filmmaker Souleymane Cissé, South African actor John Kani, Nigerian actor Richard Mofe-Damijo and American filmmaker Julie Dash.
Silicon Valley African Film Festival (SVAFF) — 17th edition: October 8 to 11, 2026, Historic Hoover Theatre, San Jose (California) · 76 films, 33 countries · next edition: October 7 to 11, 2027.
Discover on Festival TV: Sona Jobarteh's artist page and the Silicon Valley African Film Festival's page.
Official website: svaff.org
— Moïse 1er, the Festival Explorer