Teenage musician Jato Sonita performs in Kinshasa on preserving Congo Basin

By Daniel D.

Cameroonian teenage musician, Jato Sonita, thrilled audiences in the Capital city of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kinshasa, with her traditional songs aimed at raising awareness on the urgent need to save the Congo Basin.

The young musician was invited there by the United States Ambassador to the DRC, Lucy Tamlyn.

Jato’s performance took place on Tuesday, April 23, at the residence of the Ambassador, before hundreds of delegates, diplomats, and government officials.

After her performance, the US ambassador to the DRC, Lucy Tamlyn, walked up to her and said, “Your performance was perfect; thank you very much.”

Jato was happy as she had the opportunity to exchange pleasantries with the diplomats. 

That was the first time the Bamenda-based artist was crossing the national borders to showcase her talent. 

Jato became renowned for carving a niche in valorizing African culture through music and her unique dressing style.

Aside from just singing and producing songs from the forest of Mankon, the teenager also advocates for climate change-friendly practices through her music.

She is the lead artist of the forest children’s band, a group of young children unique for dressing only with banana leaves.

In Kinshasa, she was seen in the same attire, symbolizing her commitment to environmental advocacy and promotion of African culture.

“Together with other international artists like Eleanor Dubinsky, we joined our voices to make the people happy while highlighting some of the best practices and actions that can be taken to make our world a better place and most especially protect and preserve the Congo Basin,” Jato said.

She is there to take part in the Congo Basin Conclave, which unites stakeholders from countries within the Basin to deliberate on preserving the area from rapid degradation.

The Congo Basin is experiencing climate dangers, including heat waves, drought, heavy precipitation, and flooding.

The basin lost more than 2.2 million hectares of forest between 2015 and 2020, according to Climate Focus, a Dutch NGO.

Meanwhile, agriculture in this basin is highly dependent on rainfall, and current climate variability already negatively affects crop productivity.

So Jato Sonita is hoping that, through her music, she can contribute to saving the basin by urging for the planting of trees and also fighting against environmental pollution.

“Jato Sonita was nominated by the US Embassy in Cameroon to represent Cameroon in these talks and also perform in a grand musical concert organized to this effect at l’Academie Des Beaux Arts in Kinshasa,” said her manager, Bayong Ayma Che.

Jato’s performance at the US Ambassador’s residence was just the start because, on Wednesday, April 24, she will take part in a bigger concert at the biggest arts centre in Kinshasa, L’academie des Beaux-Arts.

“Today, Jato, amongst a host of artists both national and international, shall be thrilling a huge crowd of people in Kingo while highlighting the importance of the Congo Basin and calling for its protection,” Bayong Ayma added.

©Mimi Mefo Info