MUSICIAN FREAKY JOE'S US VISIT A POSITIVE SIGNAL !!!!
EDITORIAL
The visit of The Gambia’s reggae and rap star Freaky Joe to the United Sates of America, is indeed a positive signal for our country’s neglected music industry. We at the Freedom Newspaper are honoured about such an historic visit. Freaky, have a lot to share with his African American brothers and sisters, who cherished African music. His visit should not be seen as a Gambian affair. It is for all and sundry.
The likes of Freaky joined the music industry for good reasons. If it were not the likes of Freaky and other young rappers back home, our country would have been in flames by now. We can vividly remember when this Gambian acclaimed artist composed a reconciliation song in a bid to bring the rival students of The Gambia High School and the Saint Augustine’s High School together. Thanks to Freaky and his crew the growing acrimonious relationship between the two schools was laid to rest.
As a Voice of America Radio Correspondent, in The Gambia, I was privileged to interview this young promising artist. Freaky, is not only outspoken, but a good orator so to speak. I was impressed by the oratory skills of this young artist. Freaky, spent his valuable time to entertain the sick, the old, the young and the disabled with his powerful vibes. I attended his HIV/aids concerts, which are today available on the VOA achieves.
Thanks to Freaky, Njie BP the Concerer, Rongo, and other Gambian artists, the issue of discrimination against HIV patients is becoming a thing of the past. These folks worked a great dealing in raising Gambian awareness on the issues associated with stigma and discrimination against those living with the virus.
The Gambian music industry is being hijacked by the Jammeh dictatorship. A good number of artists engaged in syphocancy. While the regime is hell bent on stealing public funds, veteran Musicians such as Jaliba kuyateh are praising Jammeh day in day out. Jaliba, a onetime respected artist is gradually running out of audience because of his Jammeh Jilanka and Terrokafo and praise singing songs. This defeat the purpose of one being an artist. Your role is like that of the journalist. You can help a great deal in shaping society and not this praise singing style of music.
Our National TV and radio featured such praise singing music in favor of Jammeh, when there are other informative music to play. Such things are not strange in countries where dictators forced TV Directors to feature such failed musicians.
Freaky Joe, and our young core of artists should avoid to follow the foot steps of Jaliba and others. They are seasonal musicians, who fly with any government that is in place. Jaliba, was one of those who used to praise Jawara. But today, he never bothered to pay tribute to Sir Dawda, who helped him to realize his musical aspirations. Jaliba enjoyed a lot from the Jawara government. Former PPP Ministers can attest to this fact.
Despite we are from the same birth region Niamina, I will do injustice to my country, if I failed to expose these mercenary musicians. They are doing disservice to our country. We expect our artists to compose songs on government corruption and its implications to development. They should also expose human rights abuses in all its forms and not to hide behind the fence. They are not fair to the present and future generations of our country.
This is why we respect Ousa of Senegal. He is one of those artists out there telling his government the truth. His song titled “President, Sunaleh Reyminehna, Nanenla” was a master piece. Ousa was braved enough to tell his government that the country was hard and the government of the day would be living a dream world if they think that the country was a safe heaven.
Freaky Joe and others should help to monitor the activities of this government. Gambians are facing untold sufferings under Yahya’s rule. We expect you to address such issues and not praise singing Jammeh.
Welcome brother Freaky Joe, in this beautiful country of the United States. This country is full of liberties and its people are the finest people you can find on this universe. On behalf of the Freedom Newspaper Management , I wish you good luck in your musical endeavors. Never allow to be used by Jammeh agents. You have made a name for yourself and never compromise this hard earned name. All the best of lucks. We look forward to seeing you in Raleigh, NC. We rest our case….
The author is the former Secretary General of The Gambia Press Union and the Voice of America radio Banjul Correspondent. Mr.M'Bai, who now resides in US state of North Carolina, Raleigh was also a leading political and crime reporter with Daily Observer and The Point Newspapers respectively. He can be reached by email on the following addresses: [log in to unmask], [log in to unmask] or [log in to unmask] Feel free to send in your reactions and opinion pieces on the above mentioned email addresses.
Posted on Tuesday, March 14, 2006 (Archive on Thursday, April 27, 2006)
Posted by PANDERRYMBAI Contributed by PANDERRYMBAI
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