Belgium-based Gambian singer to tour West African country in charity

Heart Wash will arrive in Banjul on Monday September 15 (Photo Credit:  Thomas De Beule/Facebook)

A Gambian musician who is based in Belgium is to hold a musical tour of the country of which proceeds will be put into charity, event organisers Little Zion, announced.

 

The singer, who goes by the name Heart Wash, will arrive in Banjul on Monday September 15. He will use the tour to promote his third album ‘Tesitoo’ (Ready to Work), says Little Zion event manager Thomas De Beule.

Scratchylus: Jammeh gave me diplomatic passport

“I promise I will be a good ambassador of The Gambia in the Diaspora and will maintain the credibility, trust and confidence the president have in me,” Scratchylus told local journalists. (Photo Credit: Jamaican Observer)

Jamaican singer, Scratchylus, has revealed President Yahya Jammeh has given him a Gambian diplomatic passport. 
 

He also told journalists that Jammeh has given him the Gambia name Sainey Jammeh and his daughter Empress Reggae is now knows as Awa Jammeh.

The singer said he has composed a new song for President Jammeh called “grow what you eat and eat what you grow” – a usual phrase that Jammeh uses almost daily in his call on Gambian to “go back to the land” and food sufficiency plans. 

New release: Peace Fighters debut single ‘Come with me’

Upcoming singers, the Peace Fighters Clan (PFC), have released their debut single entitled ‘Come with me’ recently. The song was produced by Ghetto Boy Production.

 

King Abdoze, lead singer describes the song as a love song written for and dedicated to all lovers.

“It teaches lovers to come together no matter how tough the road might be, one thing must get better,” he told The Voice Vibes on 14 April, 2014.

Jizzle – the Food is Ready

Photo: Saikou Jammeh/Facebook

All roads lead to Alliance Française today – Friday - as Jizzle braces up to seize the stage with a bang. 

The young Gambian sensational singer is set to launch his first music collection – a mix tape – of 14 tracks.

  

“I want to tell my fans that all the songs I have been cooking are well cooked and served,” the 19-year-old says. “I say food is ready because in the music industry we artists say the studio is the kitchen.”

Jizzle – officially known as Jerreh Jallow - has started music in his early teens. He’s released his debut single in 2010. 

MC Baatiz releases ‘set-setal’ video

MC Baatiz told TNBES on Tuesday that "it is important to get this public awareness-raising audio and video on the FM stations and the TV" (Photo: MC Baatiz/Facebook)

The Gambia: Entertainment Industry Is Growing

Once a dull business, the Street Rap Battle injects vigour in would-be singers to join a growing Gambian music industry

Perhaps, one sector where the West African country's FLAG FLIES HIGHEST in 2013, is the entertainment industry. 

Stalwart to lunch debut album ‘Di Boss’ Dec 20

A young boy displays a poster of Stalwart's DI BOSS Album which include the song Show Love To D Children (Photo credit: Stalwart/Facebook)

Criminal charges against Gambian musician for radio vandalism withdrawn

On September 2, singer Nova, a Ghetto Boy Music Producer, was invited to the studios of Star FM upon his request to be granted airtime to clear his image which he claimed had been tarnished by the radio station over reports he had “impregnated three women living on the same compound” (Photo/Reverbnation)

Singer Jizzle and His Kingdom

“The Kingdom embodies a family that binds together fans, investors, musicians and other stakeholders in the music industry, to the worthy effort of supporting in particular Jizzle’s music and Gambian music in general,” Jizzle says.

YJAG to hold mega fundraising dancehall show with DJ Pisces

The Young Journalists Association of The Gambia (YJAG) is to hold a mega dancehall musical show with one of the most renowned DJs in the country, DJ Pisces on 27 April 2013 at Romana in Bakau.
 

The fundraising is meant to gather more funds for the association to embark on more capacity building programmes for its members, the young journalists, for them to become responsible journalists in order to contribute their quota to national development of The Gambia.

Lamin Jahateh, secretary general of YJAG, reiterated that proceeds from the programme will also be used to implement a line-up of activities which the association is to hold but could not due to the perennial problem of lack of fund.

Back to Africa festival to promote cultural values

By Bakary Ceesay

The ARIWA Back to Africa Festival, the second edition to be staged at the Kombo South-District village of Batokunku, is slated for 25^th - 27^th January, 2013.

The organisers of the festival, said ARIWA (a Yoroba word meaning for “being patient”) cultural showpiece is designed to promote Africa’s cultural norms and values.

Singer Freaky Joe rocks Europe

Freaky Jow, a leading Gambian dance-hall star grab headlines across Europe for the right reasons/PHOTO:Blogger News Newtwork.

Gambian singer Freaky Joe, recently concluded a European tour that took him to Belgium, Sweden, Norway, Switzerland and Finland. 

The tour followed the release of his latest album: “Mansay Kay” meaning (the President). 

MC Baatiz: ‘Hecha bu dagul fog mu yegsi’ “

“Dema geum neh hecha bu dagul fog mu yegsi” said the upcoming Rapper, MC Baatiz in the Wolof local language, meaning “I believe when pulling (for instance a rope), if it does not cut then it must arrive.” 

The singer whose real name is Samba Ceesay (MC Baatiz) was speaking to The Voice newspaper entertainment column about the strides he took and the long wait before his music hit the airwaves of FM stations in Gambia.

Born on August 18, 1978 at No. 3 Ndongo Lo Lane Street, Latrikunda German, MC Baatiz attained basic education at Latrikunda Yiringana Primary school, and Latrikunda German Junior Secondary school.

5 YEARS ON: Lengthy’s Birthday Bash Growing Bigger

Paapa Lengthy - “Jaisiit Bii – Sii Paah Bii” (the crocodile - in the hole)

Paapa Lengthy’s Birthday Bash turned five on May 26, 2012. 

The Birthday Bash, a musical night with live performances to mark singer Paapa Lengthy’s birthday is the biggest annual gathering of music lovers and artists in Latrikunda German.

The show is growing big every year, and attracted 100s of fans who gathered at the Manjai Junction singing and dancing to almost every song sang on the night.

Gambia: Dancehall artist short listed for international award

Gambian dancehall artist, Stalwart “the mental assassin” has been short listed for three international awards in the 1^st Global African Music Awards (GAMA 2011), organised by Malaysia-based music promoters and producers: Bite My Music, King Lhota, President of African Radio Asia, Siva Zaphod Chandran, Meera Thuraivel, and the Saintz and Sinnerz.

Stalwart, the “poor people’s voice” whose real name is Yankuba Dibba, one of Gambia’s most conscientious and controversial artists is competing for “Best African Male Artist”, “Best African Reggae Artist”, and Best Dancehall Artist” with entry songs “Home Again”, “What Goes Around”, and “Drive The Car”.

He is vying for honours with 26 African musicians in all three categories. The Organisers are expected to unveil the winners early this year (2012), having close polls for online voting in early December 2011.

PAAPA LENGTHY’S BIRTHDAY-BASH

Sii Paah Bii - Paapa Lengthy

On May 21, 2011, a cohort of Gambian artists and a large number of music lovers descended on Ndongo Lo Lane, in Latrikunda German to mark Paapa Lengthy’s Birthday.

The artist, who is popularly known as “Jaisiit Bii – Sii Paah Bii” (the crocodile - in the hole) has made it a tradition to organise music shows on his birthdays, since 2009.

The show was attended by music lovers and fans coming from all over the Greater Banjul Area and the West Coast Region. “It was hard organising the show, however, the turn out was incredible, people came from all over and most of them neither know me, nor they’ve seen me before,” the 26 year-old singer said in appreciation.

FILA is 2: Promoter believes there is still room for improvement

Waagan Faye, Black Lynx - Music producer and promoter

FILA, a TV Show produced by Black Lynx in cooperation with Mediamatic will be celebrating its 2^nd Year Anniversary on May 27-28, 2011 at Jakarlo Spy-Bar and Jokor Brikama respectively.

The music and entertainment show, presented by XMYLS and BLACKA, is aimed at promoting Gambian music and two-years on; it has been the most popular TV Show to have brought about great exposure of Gambian talents and home made music.

Gambian music has seen a rise in the 1960s and the 1970s; in fact, top Senegalese musicians like Youssou N’doure have had spells in Banjul to develop their music careers.

Gambia: Music Industry or Music Scene

Pix by Flikr

Views from music producers, artists, promoters and managers have revealed contradictory responses to the question, is there a Music Industry in The Gambia?

The responses, contained in a music documentary involving 30 players in the music sector, said there exist a music scene in The Gambia and not necessarily a music industry and vice versa.

“SOUTH GAMBIA Volume 1”, a “Usual Suspects” production in association with “Hot Ink Media” was unveiled on Friday, April 15, 2011 at Ozio (former Cotton club) in Fajara.  The DVD contains a music documentary, profiles of artists and music videos. The two and a half hours DVD contains interviews with some top figures in the modern music scene with an insightful look into the lives artists.

PAAPA LENGTHY AKA ‘JAISIIT BII’

Gambian music has seen an upsurge in great talents in the recent past, defined by the “Golden Generation” of Rap Music in the early nineties (90s) and the (a) days of the new Millennium.

In recent years, besides reggae and traditional music, Hip Hop and R‘N’B has be very much a force to be reckon with, gaining much popularity and inline with modern day music. Trading along these lines is Gambia’s own Paapa Lengthy, who is also known as Jaisiit Bii – Sii Paah Bii (the crocodile - in the hole).

Born in the early eighties (80s) at Dobson Street in Gambia’s capital, Banjul, Aboubacarr Sadiqh Ceesay was brought up by his parents at Lartikunda German, a town situated a few kilometers north of Banjul, in the Kanifing Municipality.

At an early stage, the singer lost both of his parents during which time he has since developed a strong love for music. He started his performance during his days at Methodist Primary School formerly Boys High School, Banjul, where his Ghanaian teacher Mr. Appiah introduced him to the Choir as a “Baritone Singer”.  

GAMBIAN MUSICIAN DEPARTS THIS LIFE

• Posted by Modou S. Joof on February 26, 2010 at 2:44pm
• View Modou S. Joof's blog

“Flying Lion Was Part of the Golden Generation That Shaped Gambian Rap Music”

Banjul, The Gambia (TNBES) Musa Njie, whose musical name was 'Flying Lion' depart this life (died) on Monday 25th January, 2010. The death of the singer has been regarded as a great loss not only to Gambia Music Industry but the country at large. He was laid to rest on the same day.

News of his demise spread like wild fire across the country, a manifestation of which was the hundreds of people (relatives, friends, fans and well wishers) who stormed his residence in Latrikunda German. Prior to his demise, Njie was working with Paradise FM, where he was regarded as one of the strong pillars of the Radio.