Music of the Gambia
Encyclopedia
The Gambia
is a West Africa
n country closely linked musically with its neighbor, Senegal. Griot
s, (also known as Jelis), a kind of hereditary praise-singer, are common throughout the region, a legacy of the ancient Mande Empire. Gambian Griots often play the kora
, a 21 string harp.
, and they make up around 36 per cent of the country's population. The region of Brikama
has produced some very famous musicians, including Amadou Bansang Jobarteh and Foday Musa Suso
. The latter founded the Mandingo Griot Society in New York City
in the 1970s, bringing Mande music to the New York avant-garde scene and collaborating with Bill Laswell
, Philip Glass
and the Kronos Quartet
.
Gambian popular music began in the 1960s, when The Super Eagles and Guelewar formed while hip bands were playing American, British and Cuban music. The Super Eagles went to London in 1977, appearing on Mike Raven
's Band Call. They played merengue
and other pop genres with an African flourish, including Wolof lyrics and minor stylistic elements. After the performance, the band began jamming out some traditional tunes and an unknown man heard, told the group that that was the style they should be playing. This inspired the group to return to their country's musical roots, and they spent two years travelling around The Gambia and studying traditional music. The reformed band was called Ifang Bondi, and their style was Afro-Manding blues.
Gambian Laba Sosseh
was a significant presence in the African and New York salsa scene. Sosseh, who relocated to Dakar
, Senegal
as a teenager, spent his entire career outside of the Gambia.
Civil unrest caused Ifang Bondi and most Gambian musicians to emigrate to countries like the Netherlands
, decimating the nascent music industry. Today, Jaliba Kuyateh and his Kumareh band is the most popular exponent of Gambian Mandinka music. There is also a thriving Gambian hip hop scene.
Former Ifang Bondi musician Juldeh Camara has been working with Justin Adams since 2007 and has been touring all over the world.
Also from Ifang Bondi, Musa Mboob
and Ousman Beyai have started a new group XamXam which started with a project in The Gambia to produce new music by taking six musicians based in the UK to The Gambia to work with top musicians from four different tribal backgrounds. Ousman Beyai moved to the UK where he worked with Musa Mboob to set up the live band XamXam.
The Gambia
The Republic of The Gambia, commonly referred to as The Gambia, or Gambia , is a country in West Africa. Gambia is the smallest country on mainland Africa, surrounded by Senegal except for a short coastline on the Atlantic Ocean in the west....
is a West Africa
West Africa
West Africa or Western Africa is the westernmost region of the African continent. Geopolitically, the UN definition of Western Africa includes the following 16 countries and an area of approximately 5 million square km:-Flags of West Africa:...
n country closely linked musically with its neighbor, Senegal. Griot
Griot
A griot or jeli is a West African storyteller. The griot delivers history as a poet, praise singer, and wandering musician. The griot is a repository of oral tradition. As such, they are sometimes also called bards...
s, (also known as Jelis), a kind of hereditary praise-singer, are common throughout the region, a legacy of the ancient Mande Empire. Gambian Griots often play the kora
Kora (instrument)
The kora is a 21-string bridge-harp used extensively in West Africa.-Description:A kora is built from a large calabash cut in half and covered with cow skin to make a resonator, and has a notched bridge. It does not fit well into any one category of western instruments and would have to be...
, a 21 string harp.
Overview
Modern ethnic Mande in The Gambia are called the MandinkaMandinka people
The Mandinka, Malinke are one of the largest ethnic groups in West Africa with an estimated population of eleven million ....
, and they make up around 36 per cent of the country's population. The region of Brikama
Brikama
Brikama is one of the largest cities in The Gambia, lying south of Banjul in the Western Division. It is known for wood carving and for its musicians...
has produced some very famous musicians, including Amadou Bansang Jobarteh and Foday Musa Suso
Foday Musa Suso
Foday Musa Suso is a musician and composer from the West African nation of Gambia. He is a member of the Mandinka ethnic group, and is a jali...
. The latter founded the Mandingo Griot Society in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
in the 1970s, bringing Mande music to the New York avant-garde scene and collaborating with Bill Laswell
Bill Laswell
Bill Laswell is an American bassist, producer and record label owner....
, Philip Glass
Philip Glass
Philip Glass is an American composer. He is considered to be one of the most influential composers of the late 20th century and is widely acknowledged as a composer who has brought art music to the public .His music is often described as minimalist, along with...
and the Kronos Quartet
Kronos Quartet
Kronos Quartet is a string quartet founded by violinist David Harrington in 1973 in Seattle, Washington. Since 1978, the quartet has been based in San Francisco, California. The longest-running combination of performers had Harrington and John Sherba on violin, Hank Dutt on viola, and Joan...
.
Gambian popular music began in the 1960s, when The Super Eagles and Guelewar formed while hip bands were playing American, British and Cuban music. The Super Eagles went to London in 1977, appearing on Mike Raven
Mike Raven
Austin Churton Fairman , who used the name Churton Fairman but was more widely known under the pseudonym Mike Raven in the 1960s and early 1970s, was a British radio disc jockey, actor, sculptor, sheep farmer, writer, TV presenter and producer, ballet dancer, flamenco guitarist and...
's Band Call. They played merengue
Merengue music
Merengue is a type of music and dance from the Dominican Republic. It is popular in the Dominican Republic and all over Latin America. Its name is Spanish, taken from the name of the meringue, a dessert made from whipped egg whites and sugar...
and other pop genres with an African flourish, including Wolof lyrics and minor stylistic elements. After the performance, the band began jamming out some traditional tunes and an unknown man heard, told the group that that was the style they should be playing. This inspired the group to return to their country's musical roots, and they spent two years travelling around The Gambia and studying traditional music. The reformed band was called Ifang Bondi, and their style was Afro-Manding blues.
Gambian Laba Sosseh
Laba Sosseh
Laba Badara Sosseh was a Gambian son and salsa singer and composer.A griot, Sosseh was born in Bathurst, British Gambia on 12 March 1943. His family relocated to Dakar because of his father's work at the airport, and Sosseh engaged Dakar's musical scene, which was at the time strongly tilted...
was a significant presence in the African and New York salsa scene. Sosseh, who relocated to Dakar
Dakar
Dakar is the capital city and largest city of Senegal. It is located on the Cap-Vert Peninsula on the Atlantic coast and is the westernmost city on the African mainland...
, Senegal
Senegal
Senegal , officially the Republic of Senegal , is a country in western Africa. It owes its name to the Sénégal River that borders it to the east and north...
as a teenager, spent his entire career outside of the Gambia.
Civil unrest caused Ifang Bondi and most Gambian musicians to emigrate to countries like the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, decimating the nascent music industry. Today, Jaliba Kuyateh and his Kumareh band is the most popular exponent of Gambian Mandinka music. There is also a thriving Gambian hip hop scene.
Former Ifang Bondi musician Juldeh Camara has been working with Justin Adams since 2007 and has been touring all over the world.
Also from Ifang Bondi, Musa Mboob
Musa Mboob
Musa M'Boob is a Gambian musician.Musa was born in Serrekunda, Gambia, West Africa on 25 November 1963. He is the son of Doudou M’Boob, the Gambian percussionist....
and Ousman Beyai have started a new group XamXam which started with a project in The Gambia to produce new music by taking six musicians based in the UK to The Gambia to work with top musicians from four different tribal backgrounds. Ousman Beyai moved to the UK where he worked with Musa Mboob to set up the live band XamXam.