Joel Karabo Elliott (JKE)

Joel Karabo Elliott (jKe) is an American-Mosotho composer, singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist whose music sings the song-stories of his journey from the towns of America to the rivers and villages of the Limpopo. He is the curator and co-founder of the renowned Roots Grown Deep world music and creative education ensemble, which has branches in Southern Africa and North America and continues the work of 'Musical Ecology'

Joel originally hails from Indiana, USA, then many years ago he settled in a village in the open spaces of GaMphahlele in Limpopo, where he became Karabo. Joel Karabo is a man and artist who draws natural inspiration from the roots of mother Afrika and her American branches. His two homelands speak plentifully through his music, while his poetry and lyrics connect the narratives of both continents to portray a fresh take on Diaspora.

jKe’s performance experience as a singer-songwriter, guitarist, trombonist and pianist in the USA and southern Afrika spans more than a decade, including collaborations with symphony orchestras, jazz ensembles, indigenous music groups and rock bands. Central to all his musical endeavors is the integration of mind and soul. ‘Music is a means to an end, and that end is nothing less than the great Unity.’ Karabo has released 10+ albums with over 40 roots musicians of diverse backgrounds around the world, including the latest watershed album 'Musical Ecology 1' by Roots Grown Deep (available on all streaming platforms).

joEL is an educator, school design consultant and trainer of teachers rooted in Consciousness-based education. He believes that nature, community and freedom are all integrated through the healing power of sound and manifested or realized through music. He has played an integral role in the establishment of several rural community-based projects, including the Sedikong sa Lerato Moringa Cooperative (GaMphahlele) and Bjatladi Youth Development (GaMamabolo). He is also a musical death doula with the Center for Conscious Living & Dying (Swannanoa, NC).

www.rootsgrowndeep.com