In four consequetive issues, the FOROYAA has been featuring an interview
that we have with Oko Drammeh, the renowned Gambian International Music
Promoter, with a view to generating and sustaining an instructive debate as to how to
help to revive or establish music in The Gambia. In this exclusive
interview, contained in the Nos. 14th,15th,16th and 17th of 2007 Issues of FOROYAA
(5th to 12th February), Oko elaborated on the history of organised band music in
the country and coming all the way to its present state, which one may not
be wrong to describe as ‘Lethargic’, given its lack of vibrancy.
The concern, therefore, is to start a national debate involving all those
who matter and or are interested in this noble national business of reviving or
establishing vibrancy or the identity of Gambian Music. The Gambia have a
bevy of young and talented singers and musicians who try the instruments. But,
unlike the earlier generation of Gambian musicians who had learned,
self-taught and perfected their skills to become professionals in an informal way, you
hardly see the young ones being experts in guitar, keyboards, horns,
saxophone and other musical instruments. They are very few in number. Although, there
are some who are good with traditional insruments.How can we then help to
separately improve on and also blend these skills with modernity and get a
truely Gambian cultural phenomenon in the sphere of music.
Efforts will be made to talk to, as many veteran musicians as possible,
particularly, the likes of Badou Jobe, Oussu Njie ‘Senor’, Seneme Taylor, Bai
Janha, Laba Sosseh, Abdel Kabir ‘Lie Ngum’, Musa Ngum and all the others who
are both in the Gambia and abroad to share with their ideas.
I am, therefore, as the columnist, urging all those Gambians and cultural
nationalists, at home and abroad, who are really interested and following this
discourse to help inform these musicians about it and the need for them to
partake of the issue.
It is high time for us Gambians to start inhibiting the culture of given
honour to the past and those who made selfless contributions to society and the
nation.
I am also inviting everybody to make contributions. The numbers to call
00220-4393177 / 00220-9953212 or E-Mail: [log in to unmask] /
[log in to unmask]
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